CHALLENGING THE RED EYE MONSTER CALLED UNEMPLOYMENT

Unemployment has  become a monster feasting on economies all over the world some have found ways of taming the red eye monster while other are still falling victim to its voracious appetite.The Nigeria situation is that of a victim deeply wounded by a ravaging beast and looks stranded with no hope of help and healing.

Yes, policies have been made, different programmes have been created to ease the heat of unemployment in Nigeria but it has had little or no effect, instead, it has been on an alarming rise.

According to a report by the National Bureau of statistics, unemployment rate in Nigeria increased to 23.90 percent in 2011 from 21.10 percent in 2010. Unemployment in Nigeria averaged 14.60 percent from 2006 until 2011, reaching an all- time high of 23.90 percent in 2011 and a record low of 53 percent in 2006.

Consequently, the growing rate of unemployment can be attributed to some factors. According to Biodun  Awosusi [2012], Africa has the fastest growing and most youthful population in the world and Nigeria being the most populous nation in Africa contribute a large number to this growing statistics. Africa’s high fertility rate is responsible for this. As the population expands, jobs must be created. If those jobs are not enough there will be many young people who are unemployed.   

According to the International Labour Organization, 3 out of 5 unemployed people in Africa are young people. Since our education curriculum lacks skills and enterprise development, a special programme should be designed for low skilled youths. And this is where Lashone Links Business School comes in. 

Lashone Links Business School has challenged the monstrous situation in Nigeria since its inception through its skill acquisition programme. It has turned many Nigerian youth from unemployed to employers of labour and this year, it is taking a giant stride by training over a thousand Nigerian youth in its 2014 skill acquisition programme.

The distinct nature of Lashone Links Skill Acquisition programme from other existing ones is that the participants will have the opportunity of attending a one week entrepreneurial training course from business mogul in the country and astute personnel in various fields of skill on how to start and sustain a business, the challenge and opportunities; the pit falls and stepping stones; the loss and gain and the Dos and don’ts of business.

After the entrepreneurial course the participants will then be attached for a three months internship programme in the various field of skill which they registered for. A huge project as this cannot be shouldered alone by one organization and the Lashone Skill Acquisition programme is duly supported and endorsed by the Lagos State Ministry of Education, Lagos State Ministry of Youth, Sport and Social Development Lagos state ministry of women Affairs and National Directorate of Employment [NDE].

If a programme as this can be done on a quarterly basis with help from Multi-Nationals, government parastatals, Religious bodies, NGOs; the red eye monster- unemployment will be well tamed and the economy of Nigeria will experience sustained growth and bloom.