Osogbo (NAN) Some artisans in Osogbo said the numbers of youths willing to become apprentice were getting fewer in the State.

They said in  Osogbo on Thursday that craftsmanship, which they considered to be vital to the development of the nation, was going into extinction.

“The decreasing numbers of artisans and the neglect of craftsmanship by the youths in the country should attract the attention of all arms of government’’, they contended.

Mr Oladele Ipoola, a member of Osogbo Welders Association, said youths, who should engage themselves in vocational skills, “were now in okada business due to greed and laziness.’’

Ipoola the acquisition of skills had been greatly neglected by the youths, adding that vocational skills were relevant to the development of the nation.

“In those days, many youths who were not interested in schooling came out to learn hand work. The situation is no longer the same.

“This is simply because of greed for money and impatience; many of the youths are no longer interested in learning hand work.

“Who will take over when the older ones in the job are gone? That is my concern. “And no nation can survive without artisans, no matter how strong’’.

Ipoola, however, appealed to parents to encourage their children who are not interested in formal education, to get busy in vocational skills training.

He also urged unemployed graduates to take up the challenge of learning hand work, adding that since government cannot provide jobs for all, graduates should help themselves by becoming self-employed.

Chief Akeem Ogunkoya, a mechanic, said vocational skill acquisition gives individuals the skills to live, learn and work as a productive citizen in the society.

He said it was regrettable that such a scheme was losing relevance.

Ogunkoya said the dearth of apprentices in the town and in the country at large was socially and economically injurious as it robbed the nation of the contributions of youths to national development.

Mrs Bimbo Lawal, a hairdresser, also said that youths were not interested in hand work anymore.

“Things are no longer the same. I used to have up to five or more apprentices in my shop. Nowadays, hardly do I get one in a year.

“Most of these girls now engage in hawking or prostitution which to me is not in any way better than hand work“.

Lawal, however, urged parents to encourage and supervise their children in vocational skills acquisition rather than engaging them in unwholesome activities.

Mr Tunde Kolawole, a fashion designer, said “quick money syndrome“ was reason that youths were ignoring vocational skills acquisition.’’

Kolawole said youths, who were out of school, believed in looking for jobs that would give them quick money rather than spending two or more years in learning a trade or hand work.

He said that the dearth of apprentices could negatively affect the growth of the country if not checked.

“The way things are going, in the next three to five years, we might find it hard to see youths learning vocational skill and that will be dangerous to our economy.

“Just imagine if there are no longer mechanics, electricians, painters, tailors and many other artisans, what do you think will happen to our economy?

“Most of our youths now prefer commercial motorcycling to any other jobs and our government is encouraging this by giving out motorcycles as empowerment tool instead of enrolling the youths in vocation skill acquisition. (NAN)