FG Trains 1,000 Bayelsians on Employability Skills
2 min read by Chris Mark
Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has trained 1,000 unemployed graduates on Employability Skills in Bayelsa State.
The 3-day workshop was to equip unemployed graduates with knowledge on to be self- employed and how to source for job.
The event which started on Monday, May 30th, ended on Wednesday, June 1st, in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Speaking to newsmen,the Bayelsa State Acting Controller of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr Okpotunimibofa Joseph Subai,said that due to the unemployment rate in the country, the ministry deemed it necessary to carry out the exercise to enlighten the unemployed graduates.
Subai,noted that government can not provide jobs for everyone,hence, the need for acquire extra skills,adding that the private sector is also an avenue for unemployed graduates to be employed.
The state Controller further assured that considering the level of training conducted, participants could easily secure meaningful jobs abroad,stressing that the ministry have equiped and exposed the unemployed graduates on how to be self reliant and be entrepreneurs.
On how participants were selected,he said “what we did is that unemployed graduates normally come to our office to submit CV’s and when it comes we record them,so when this opportunity came, we only go to our data and begin to notify them.
According to him”There was no special criteria,the only criteria is that you must be a graduate living within Bayelsa”.
He advised participants not to joke with all they have learnt, saying if taken seriously and well applied in their daily lives, it would be productive for them.
Okpongu Hannah, a participant from Sagbama, revealed that since she graduated in 2017, she had not been able to secure job, but that the programme had further exposed her to start up a business and be a manager of her own.
“Since I graduated in 2017, I have not gotten a job but as I came for this programme,they have taught me how to go for skills,how to be creative,how to be a manager on my own to start up a business since there’s no job for now”she said.
Okpongu further advised unemployed graduates not to be discouraged nor stay idle but rather start up a business no matter how small the business is.
She further thanked the ministry for organising the programme that has equipped her with skills to be self-employed.