KDI Proffers Vocational Training, Technical Education As panacea To Youth Unemployment

….He Commends Gov Oyetola For Focusing On Yearnings Of Youths

The Executive Director, Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), Mr Bukola Idowu, has said that the absence of a robust, well-modelled quality technical and vocational education is responsible for the frightening national unemployment figures.

Idowu said this while speaking during the 2nd Osun Youth Policy Agenda Dialogue organised by a Non Governmental Organization , Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), in Osogbo, Osun state capital, on Thursday.

Other eminent personalities who spoke at the Osun Youth Agenda Policy Dialogue include Mr Femi Adefila, Member KDI Board of Trustees CEO, Rave FM, Dr Stephen Snook, Senior Resident Director, National Democratic Institute, Hon Yemi Lawal , Commissioner of Youth, Sport and Special Needs, Mr Adedayo Adewole , Osun State Commissioner of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Olanipekun Henry Okabode, Osun state Commissioner of Commerce and Industry amongst others.

The Executive Director of KDI who stated that the main focus of the agenda was on how to ensure that Osun youths are finanally independent and relatively inclusive in the scheme of things said a lot has to be done to change the perception of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) by fostering public support.

He recommends that the government of the state should look into vocational training and technical education to assist young people in developing their capacities.

He also charged the state government on the need to create enabling environment for the development of the youths.

Idowu commended the governor for focusing on the yearnings of youths through its policy making processes and programmes. He said that the present administration had done well enough through its empowerment and entrepreneurship programmes focusing on Youths.

” This is commendable because youths are the targets of the 21st century and also drivers and life line for sustainable development”.

He, however, urged the lawmakers to give special attention to the Youth Development Commission Bill currently before the Assembly.

Earlier, Osun State Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola commended the National Demographic Institute (NDI ) and Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), for initiating policies and programmes capable of enhancing youth development in the State.

Represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Mr Yemi Lawal, Oyetola said youths agenda play vital roles towards the socioeconomic development and growth of any state.

” Youth are people with concept and idea capable to driving a nation to prosperity and must be given the avenue to strive.

” They are principal players in our developmental agenda and we have accorded our programmes on focusing especially on youths, ” he said

According to him,the Osun Youth Development Commission Bill had been sent to the House of Assembly for necessary attention and the way forward for the advantage of over 2.5 million youths in the state.

” A bill for the establishment of Youth Development Commission has been forwarded to the State House of Assembly as a response to your request presented at the 1st Osun Youth Policy Agenda for the establishment of the Commission.

” I am happy and fortunate as a governor to have an army of most proactive , innovative, intelligent, educated, most service and people oriented youths.

” Indeed with this array of young people around me,I am confident that our development Agenda is on autopilot,” he said.