Vocational Training for Unemployed Youth in Nigeria

About

Location: Nigeria
Key(s): Economic Empowerment

Society for the Improvement of Rural People, a Rockflower partner based in Nigeria, has launched a recent project in which they plan to train unemployed youth in the Idaw-River community in a number of highly employable vocational skills. SIRP aims to promote quality service that will improve the living conditions of people, while ensuring true partnership, accountability and good governance.

The Idaw-River community currently has one of the highest unemployment rates in Enugu State. SIRP has conducted interview-based research and determined that of their sample, 50% of residents ages 18-30 are unemployed and lack useful job skills. Additionally, the organization found that the majority of interviewees have attended school, but the quality of their education has left them lacking the skills necessary to gain employment. Due to the prevalence of unemployment, many young adults are turning to theft and other illegal activities in order to support themselves and their families, which has had a negative impact on the overall safety of the community.

Based on this research, SIRP plans to engage multiple stakeholders from the community to contribute to creating a solution to the area’s high unemployment rate, specifically in employable young adults. They will organize meetings with the local councillor, officials from the State Ministry of Youth and Sports, as well as a number of religious leaders, teachers, and young adults with the goal of improving the quality of life for unemployed young adults as well as the community as a whole.

SIRP is seeking to train 30 young adults in a number of vocational skills. The vocational skills will include: graphic design, soap making, cosmetology and baking. These specific vocations have been chosen based on a number of factors including time needed to learn the skills, demand and profitability. Through this pilot project alone, the program aims to reduce the unemployment rate in the Idaw-River community from 33% to 31% by the end of 2021. SIRP will also provide participants with training in business management and financial literacy so that they feel empowered to begin their own small businesses. They will also hold a certification ceremony at the end of the program to recognize the participants and name them champions of the community, which will empower them to help train the next round of participants and ensure the long-term sustainability of the program.