Rotary Club District 9127 Trains Over 400 Youths from 16 States

In an attempt to meet the demands of employability and close the unemployment gap, Rotary Club of District 9127 hosted youths from 16 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in its annual programme, Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA), at the School of Treasury, Orozo, in the FCT.

District Governor, Dr. Joy Nky Okoro, stated that the self-development programme, themed, “Passion, action and reaction,” was targeted at youths ages 15-30.

Okoro said it involved training the youths on skills acquisition, which included shoe making, photography, disposable sanitary wares and other things of interest, after which seed grants will be given to each outstanding participant.

Emphasising that the training was set to reduce over dependence on white-collar jobs, which she said was hard to come by, the district governor said many youths had been impacted through such life-changing programmes organised by the club.

According to her, “They’ll be taught skills that include shoe making, bags and even disposable sanitary wares, photography and several others.

“When leaving the camp, the best of them will be empowered so that after leaving the camp, instead of going to look for white collar jobs, or sitting and waiting for it, which we know is not available, they can start off with the skilful things they have learnt from this place.

“This year, we are training about 400 of them and they have been equipped with everything. Each that has done very well will be given seed money. District 9127 has 16 states including the FCT and many of them come from the states which comprise the North West, North East and North Central. The participants are university and secondary school students.

“Many have been trained and have gone to start helping themselves in the labour market.’’

In his teaching, titled, “Unlocking youth potential: enhancing emotional intelligence and resilience,” training consultant and Rotarian, Dr. Baba Abdul Bala, said environment, change in behaviours and improving on talents and skills remained the gateway to success.

While appreciating the place of degree certificates and qualifications, Bala said beyond the qualification rhetoric, skills were needed to keep the job and make one relevant in the market space.

He said many youths today were missing out in the understanding of such valuable lessons, hence, the attainment of unproductive results.

According to him, “A lot of the youths today are missing it and my message was from the neuro- linguistic level, and that is the logical level of change.

“The first level is the environment even though it’s not sufficient to change everything for you, except behaviour is changed. Having bad behaviour in Nigeria will not automatically change because one has relocated to Canada.

“So, you have to check yourself because the environment might not be the problem after all, but behaviour. Sometimes, it is not the behaviour, but deficiency in the skills required.”

Bala stated, “So, all these factors must be checked and worked on for positive results, and without a change, there will still be same results been recorded. You must also build capacity because people want to help you, but do you have what it takes to do what they have or want?

“The place of certificates is a Nigerian thing because that’s the only thing that open the door for you. It is the key but cannot keep you inside the room but skills. When certificate is mentioned, you will have to add it to secure the job. Skills works for me.”

He revealed, “No one asked me for my certificate before my presentation, and it has always been the case. The content of my presentation will be what you will take from my class, and I don’t lecture like lecturers but transform minds.

“Skills are God-given and need to be honed and the moment you have this belief; it will work for you.”