De Sele of Jos, Chief Mrs Sarah Dagah, an entrepreneur, philanthropist and mentor, has said skills acquisition alone cannot address youth unemployment unless young people can access mentorship, finance, markets and other resources needed to turn their skills into livelihoods.
Dagah stated this while presenting a paper, “Skills Acquisition: Unlocking Opportunities for Young People,” at the Jos Summit and Award Night organised by the One Plateau Unity Forum at the Millennium International Event Centre, Jos.
She described the process as an opportunity chain that moves from skill acquisition and practice to mentorship, finance, market access, business growth and employment.
“What happens to talent when opportunity is blocked? What happens to that young woman who cannot afford a sewing machine? And what happens to that young man who has acquired technical skills but has no tools with which to work?”
Dagah said the challenge cuts across sectors, citing farmers who struggle to find profitable markets for their produce and entrepreneurs who have good products but lack the finance to reach customers and expand.
She urged stakeholders to pay greater attention to what happens after training, saying practical experience, mentorship, tools, financing and access to customers are crucial to turning skills into productive ventures.
She also stressed the need for personal commitment, noting that available support would have limited impact where beneficiaries are unwilling to put their abilities to work.
Reflecting on her work through the Sarah Dagah Foundation, she said some beneficiaries had received resources and support but failed to make adequate use of them.
Rather than allowing such experiences to discourage further intervention, Dagah urged young people to take greater responsibility for their development and strive for economic independence.
“My call today to Plateau youth and to the women is: be self-sufficient. Develop yourself. That is what I call capital development.”
Dagah called on successful young people to mentor others and become examples within their communities, saying visible success could encourage more youths to pursue productive paths.
“The one person that is doing well or that has done well, may they continue to do well and identify others to do well, because if they do well and people see them doing well, the other youths will also be encouraged and determined to do better.”
She said the task ahead was to ensure that skills do not end with certificates or training, but lead to productivity, enterprise and jobs, urging Plateau youths to combine talent with discipline, willingness and persistence.
