The Vice-Chancellor of University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali has emphasised the impor­tance of entrepreneurship to address youth unemploy­ment in the country, urging schools to equip their stu­dents with required skills.

He made the observation at the launch of an online platform-"Repertoire"- by some students of the univer­sity. Repertoire is a digital platform that seeks to scout and connect student entre­preneurs from all tertiary institutions in the country.

Prof. Ambali lamented that the high rate of unem­ployment among Nigerian youths has greatly contrib­uted to the increasing level of poverty and insecurity in the country, adding that it also erodes youths' self-confidence.

The VC, who was repre­sented at the event by the Dean, Faculty of Commu­nications & Information Sciences of the institution, Prof. S.S Sadiku, faulted the growing rate of unemployment on youth over-depen­dence on white collar jobs, which he said, have become scarce.

He also blamed higher in­stitutions in the country for, "training students to have more of cognitive skills and less of psycho-motor skills that can make them self-employed rather than job seekers"

He stressed the need for schools to train and encour­age their students to acquire necessary life-long skills that could make them inde­pendent and successful in life, noting that UNILORIN would continue to support initiatives that prepare stu­dents for challenges.

Earlier in his address, the CEO of Skyground Africa and founder of Repertoire, Ibrahim Shittu, disclosed that the online platform was created to address the chal­lenge of unemployment by connecting student entre­preneurs together and en­couraging other students to embrace entrepreneurship.

"We observed that some students have talents, skills and business ideas, but do not know how to nurture these ideas and skills. We intend to give them via our platform the push that will help them to become suc­cessful business owners.

"Repertoire will also give them opportunity to exhibit their products, skills and ideas at our exhibition pro­grammes in campuses natio­wide," he said.

Also speaking, Usman John Paul, President, Fed­eration of UNESCO Clubs of Nigeria (FUCN) noted that provision of platforms for youths to engage in devel­opment process had become necessary in the face of cur­rent global challenges.