Unemployment: Oborevwori Challenges Youths With Skill Acquisition, Financial Literacy

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, charged youths in the country on Friday to learn skills and financial literacy so that they can work for themselves rather than looking for white-collar jobs.

Governor Oborevwori delivered the keynote address at the Niger Delta Viewpoint Small Medium Enterprises, NDVP-SME Conference 2024, themed ‘Financial Literacy and Skill Acquisition, A Journey To Self Actualization,’ held in Asaba.

Governor Oborevwori, represented by his Chief of Staff, Prince Johnson Erijo, stated that acquiring skills in various fields was a sure path to self-development and empowerment, and he encouraged young people to learn from and emulate successful entrepreneurs by starting businesses of their own.

The Governor stated, “The training of our youths and women in self-actualizing knowledge and skills to make them economically independent is a most welcome development.”

“The time has come to wean our people, particularly our youths, away from relying solely on the government to provide all human capital development mechanisms, particularly white-collar jobs. The government alone cannot employ everyone.

“It has thus become necessary to train our people in a variety of areas so that they can become entrepreneurs, grow their businesses, and become employers of labour.

“I am pleased that this programme will teach our people about financial literacy. This way, Small and Medium Entrepreneurs can negotiate and access funds to grow their businesses on their own, creating opportunities for them to become employers of labour.”

He stated that the state government has trained thousands of young people, both men and women, in various fields and empowered them to start their businesses.

Governor Oborevwori stated, “We sincerely believe that the State has created a sizable pool of entrepreneurs capable of revolutionising the State’s SMEs. However, we recognise that more work is required.

“It is worth noting that this initiative encompasses catering, fashion, IT (both soft and hardware), farming, manufacturing, and the creative industry.

“This diverse set of skills can help participants become economically self-sufficient. I encourage all participants to pay close attention and be well-versed in their chosen field. The market for your goods and services is readily available.

“I implore the organisers to emphasise mentoring. Some graduates of skill acquisition frequently stray from what they have learned. However, proper mentoring will prevent this attitude. Please devote adequate attention to mentoring.

Mrs Kathleen Erhimu, Founder and Group Managing Director of Kudimata Nigeria Limited, welcomed participants earlier and stated that after working in the financial world for over 40 years, she felt compelled to work for herself while creating value for others.

She stated that Kudimata was founded two years ago as a hybrid educational financial service provider dedicated to providing basic financial education, advisory, business support, internship, mentorship, empowerment, training, and development to individuals and small-scale businesses in the interest of economic growth and long-term viability through the Community (FINCOM) Model.

Mrs Tara Fela-Durotoye, the lead speaker and founder of House of Tara, emphasised the importance of relationships, reputation, and resilience in the business world during her presentation.

Mudiaga Enajemo, CEO of Mudi Africa, stated that he built his brand over 30 years ago through talent and self-confidence, and urged Nigerian youths to capitalise on their talent by undergoing the necessary training to grow their businesses.

According to Frank Onosigho, a lawyer who spoke on legal basics for entrepreneurs, businesses must be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission CAC, as well as build trust and relationships to excel and sustain themselves in business.

At the ceremony, Kudimata and Prudential Energy presented 50 beneficiaries with N500,000 cheques to start their businesses.