A Professor of Criminology and Gender Studies Mrs. Hauwa’u Evelyn Yusuf wants employers of labour and job seekers to nurture talents, invest in training and life-long learning to bolster organizational growth and economic development of the country.
The Professor is also calling on policy makers to craft youth focused labour laws, support entrepreneurship and strengthen public private partnerships toward shaping work forces that reflect full potential of the Nigerian people.
Prof. Hauwa’u Evelyn Yusuf who is a lecturer with the Department of Sociology, Kaduna State University stated this during a career fair in Kaduna, themed ‘meet, connect, get hired.
The event that brought together key stakeholders including employers of labour, career placement organizations, and training providers followed the need to developed strategies using a holistic and collaborative approach toward addressing the long lasting issue of youth unemployment in the country.
Speaking gender inclusivity in career development, the professor explained that, inclusion has major role to play in promoting development, pointing out that, the event reflected the urgent drive to how women and youth seek to take charge of their professional future in today’s changing world.
According to her, workers must acquire digital and analytical skills to stay competitive and align with the ongoing revolution in the work environment, in addition to investments on technical and vocational training for the youth.
Hauwa’u Yusuf pointed out that, the demand for roles that require emotional intelligence, creativity and critical thinking was on the increase, hence the need for workforce to be prepared and transitioned from manual to mental labour in line with best practices.
“We are in the midst of a revolution in how we work, digitalization is changing industries, traditional roles are disappearing, and new roles especially in tech, finance, education and health are emerging,
“So AI and automation are reshaping the Job description, I’m sure the employers that are in this hall today are not looking for that secretary who is just waiting to be handed a note to go and type, if you are that type of person, you cannot get a job,
“They are looking for that secretary who they’ll just tell, look I need to do a presentation at ten, and I need you to give me something on gender inclusion, and he gives you just ten fifteen minutes, to give him a complete write up,
“So if you are a job seeker in this hall today, and you still do not know what to do with that phone you are carrying about, and the only thing you do with it is to receive calls, then you are in trouble, your phone is beyond that, it’s a complete work place, the world has moved on, that’s not were we are, so you need to move on,” said the professor.
The gender studies expert emphasized that, prosperous labour market cannot ignore half of its population, stressing the need for organizations to be gender sensitive from recruitment to promotion.
Prof. Hauwa’u Yusuf identified mentorship, advocacy and visibility as tools to uplift marginalized voices in the society, emphasizing the need for young people to leveraged on the existing ministry and mentorship for self reliance, as against the tradition of relying on government for white collar jobs.
An inclusive work place according to Mrs. Yusuf, is not only ethical, but productive, innovative and sustainable, noting that, when a woman is empowered, it reflects on communities, leading to inclusive growth and sustainability.
The Criminology expert further advised that, workforce development programs, including prison reforms and community reintegration initiatives should be part of security strategies, adding that, a society that leaves its youth idle create a breeding ground for unrest.
According to her, when young people are engaged, skilled, and hopeful, the resultant effects could be stability, peace and productivity.
In a welcome address, head of program impact, West Africa, Jobberman, Mr. Ahmed Alaga expressed the commitment of the organization in tackling unemployment, and equipping young Nigerians with the requisite skills and opportunities needed to thrive in the workforce.
He said, jobberman through young Nigerians work initiative, supported by mastercard foundation had in over five years empowered over two million young Nigerians.
Moving into the second phase of the initiative, he explained that, Jobberman is determined to expand its impact, build stronger relationship with industry linkages, and ensure more young people in the northern part of the country have access to meaningful opportunities and skills advancement among others.
“So if you are a job seeker today, this program may be your turning point in your career journey, some of you will leave this hall with job offers, others will work away with a connection, we want you to leave here better informed, equiped, and more hopefull than when you worked into the gate of musa yar’adua hall,
“To our employers, your presence here today signal the idea that you are willing and committed to providing employment opportunities for young people, and this is something that is lagging, and very few employers understand this factor,” he said.
In a remark, the Commissioner for Business Innovation and Technology Patience Fakai was optimistic that the event represented more than just a career fair, but a testament to the state’s commitment to fostering innovation, growth and economic prosperity.
The commissioner said the maiden edition of the program in the last two years recorded significant milestone where over a thousand unemployed youth, and about one hundred employers of labour were in attendance with over three hundred job placements secured.
She said, the event provided a platform where talents met opportunity, ambition connected with reality and dreams achieved, saying it also reflected the partnership with government, the private sectors and educational institutions, aimed at empowering the youth and supported the economic ambitions of government.
“Many of you are aware of the effort of our dear governor, his Excellency, Senator Uba Sani to making Kaduna State the skills hub for the nation with the ongoing construction of three world class vocational and Technology skills acquisition cities, one in each senatorial zone in in the state.
“These are mechanisms put in place to promote human capital development in the state inline with his sustained agenda, and in realization of the socio economic development,” explained Patience Fakai.
High point of the event was the panel discussion focusing on the theme, in addition to good will messages by the Commissioner of Agriculture Mr. Murtala Dabo, Vice Chancellor, Kaduna State University, Prof. Abdulahi Ibrahim Musa, among others.
Daniel Karlmax
