The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Will Straw, said the essence of the he initiative was to create life-changing opportunities for young people, support thousands of others in the years ahead, and indirectly, their families and communities.
Speaking yesterday at the launch of PTI’s maiden Get Hired programme at the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) House in Ikeja, Lagos, Straw said the organisation has been working for the past 18 months in the country, but noted that the unveiling of its programmes was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He explained that the non-governmental organisation (NGO) would achieve its mission by impacting Nigerian youth in three key areas: skills, jobs and experience, adding that the youth, like their counterparts in many other countries, face these three issues.
Straw said: “A skill gap: Over 10 million Nigerian children are out of school. Many more leave school early to start earning. Among those who complete their schooling, many can leave education without the skills needed to enter the workforce.
“A job gap: With far more jobseekers than formal jobs, most young people in Nigeria have to work in the informal sector, which makes up over half of the economy.
“An experience gap: Young people are told you can’t get a job because you lack experience, but can’t gain experience because you can’t get a job.”
He added: “Of those who joined our first employability skills programme in Nigeria, 96 per cent were in work or training within three months of completing the programme.
“Our ambition is to support 20,000 young people in the years ahead directly, but what we know is that our support has an indirect effect as well on the families, communities, and where young people set up a business, they can then go on to employ other young people and turn from being job seekers to being job creators.
He explained that the NGO’s programmes in 23 countries aim to close these gaps, by focusing on core life skills that young people need for the world of work, and working with the private sector to offer work placements.
On her part, PTI’s Trustee and former Vice President of World Bank, Arunma Oteh, said investment in youths was worthwhile and sustainable for development, adding that 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population are youths.
Oteh, who is also a former Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), affirmed that Nigerian youths are hardworking, creative and resilient, observing that PTI’s launch in the country would catalyse more changes and development.
Director-General, NECA, Oyerinde Adewale-Smatt, said unemployment was a great challenge for the country. The menace, according to him, is projected to grow to 40 per cent this year.
Adewale-Smatt said the partnership plays a critical role in addressing unemployment, skills gaps and employability in Nigeria and Africa.
Disc Jockey and producer, Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola, professionally known as DJ Cuppy, also inspired the prospective employees, urging them not to relent till they reach their career goals.
