The challenge of unemployment afflicting many Nigerian youths and graduates can be best addressed through functional entrepreneurship.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Engr. Ernest Nwapa made this pronouncement recently in Lagos at the Engineering Opportunity Clinic organized by the University of Lagos Engineering Society.
Speaking on the theme, “The Missing Potential in the Nigerian Graduates – Focus on Engineering Graduates”, the Executive Secretary noted that the aim of life is self-development and realization, adding that Nigerian Content initiatives are geared towards developing the potentialities of Nigerians to participate in projects and activities in the oil and gas industry and allied sectors.
He described Nigerian youths as intelligent and hardworking, noting however, that their potentialities are often limited by inadequate infrastructure, lack of requisite tools for learning, lack of entrepreneurial skills and culture that will make them self-reliant after completion of their studies.
The Executive Secretary who spoke through the Chief Supervisor, Capacity Building, Engr. Frank Ibi, disclosed that one good and viable way to foster entrepreneurial skills acquisition and development amongst the youth is to establish a long-lasting connection between established institutions and the respective Universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
This according to him will drive a strong desire for change in attitude of the students and youths with the existence of varieties of incentives for students and youths with sound business plans.
Other speakers at the event also highlighted the roles graduates of engineering could play in transforming the country.
In his comments, the Lead Structural Design Engineer for Chevron, Mr. Abraham Mrakpor, posited that “the Engineer is a problem solver whose major objective is to solve a given problem with the simplest, safest, most efficient design possible, at the lowest cost.”
He added that every economic and environmental problem facing society is an opportunity for the engineer, adding that engineers should be excited by the current under-development as it not only catalogs the problems plaguing our society, but also provides a platform for engineering intervention.
Giving reasons for organizing the event, president of the society, Mr. Ogayemi Tomisona said the drop-out rate from engineering was alarming as students were switching to other courses as though there was no future in the profession.
He added that the Society hoped to use the forum to proffer solutions to some of the problems afflicting the study of the engineering discipline.
