Date: 2016-11-19

Former Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has said over 34million Nigerian youth are currently unemployed.

Abdullahi gave this figure in llorin, the Kwara capital at flag-off of Saraki's Skills acquisition, Training and Empowerment Programme (STEP) for 40,000 youth.

He described the statistics of youth unemployment as alarming in the country which he said is retarding development efforts. Abdullahi also said those afflicted by unemployment syndrome also lacked direction as to where they are going in the way and manner they scout for jobs.

He said unemployment was one of the biggest challenges facing governments across the globe, adding that the menace was redefining national security, reshaping politics and changing societies.

In his remark, the President of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, said the Senate was considering ways of local fabric "Aso-Oke" as material for school pupils' caps and cardigans to provide large number of jobs and generate enough revenue.

Saraki said this was in line with his firm belief and advocacy for patronage of home made goods.

The National President, Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), Alhaji AbdulHameed Adi, said creation of more empowerment schemes will reduce the rate of unemployment, thereby making the army of the beneficiaries to be self-employed.

An Associate Professor in the University of Ilorin, Dr Fatai Aremu Ayinde in his brief lecture identified goal clarity, desire, belief, knowledge and action as sure ways to becoming a successful entrepreneur.