BY Olayinka Latona
Speakers at a one day youth empowerment programme initiative organised by Healing Heart Foundation in Lagos with the theme,  “I’d rather be the boss”,  have advised Nigerian youths to imbibe the culture of getting vocational training, in addition to their course of studies in order to reduce the rate of unemployment in the country.

Lamenting the rate of unemployment among Nigerian youths, President of Healing Heart Foundation, Mrs. Sophy Mbanisi, explained that the emergence of civilization had contributed largely to unemployment rate in Nigeria in that majority of people only run after white-collar jobs and this, she said, has stunted the economic growth of the nation. She, however, revealed that there will be an economic explosion in the nation when enterprising spirit and education are used together.

In her words: “With civilization, people became educated and started looking for white-collar jobs and this has affected the rate of our economic growth. But when the enterprising spirit in our people coupled with education are awakened, there is bound to be a mind shifting that will cause economic explosion in our nation”.

Continuing, Mrs. Mbanisi said that it was necessary to improve the educational and entrepreneurial capacities of the youths so as to empower them earn a livelihood as well as contribute meaningfully to the society in which they live.

According to her, it was in realisation of this need that the Foundation organised the one-day seminar in order to build a next generation of enterprising young men and women as obtained before the civilization era when people only got money through entrepreneurship.

One of the facilitators, Clement Enajemo, a fashion designer known as Mundi Africa, while delivering his speech said Nigerian youths should embrace integrity and hard work, and be disciplined in all their endeavours. He reminded the audience that everyone has one or two gifts which God has deposited in him or her, adding that people should look inward and unleash such gifts.

“Nigerian youths should believe in themselves, work hard and be disciplined in all their endeavors as well as remain focused and simple. There is something in us that makes us better than other countries; therefore we should be focused despite what is happening in our environments; we should not cut corners but be diligent”.

Celebrities such as Holy Mallam, Madu Chikwendu, Debbin Udeme and other individuals personally told their stories and gave motivational speeches with the purpose of instigating change in the youths. They encouraged the youth to redefine their aspirations and give shape to their own potentials.