The last time I checked, on July 15, the world over celebrated the
fourth edition of the World Youth Skills Day. The day, which is aimed at
enhancing the youth’s ability in order to make informed life and work choices,
was established by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on November 11,
2014.
The World Youth Skills Day was initiated in the UN by the effort of the
Sri Lanka Representative, and was unanimously endorsed by the assembly. Hence,
the UN calls on Member States to observe the day in an appropriate manner.
A skill can simply be defined as the ability to do something well. It
can also be referred to as the ability and capacity acquired through
deliberate, systematic, and sustained effort in order to smoothly and
adaptively carryout complex activities or job functions involving ideas,
things, and/or people.
Similarly, skill acquisition
is the process of acquiring a certain skill by an individual through a thorough
intensive training over a given period of time. Skill acquisition involves both
theoretical and practical training regardless of its duration.
Skill can be classified into three major parts including cognitive,
technical and interpersonal skills. A cognitive skill deals with ideas;
technical skill is the ability to handle things or a certain human endeavour effectively
and efficiency; whilst, interpersonal skill is the ability to relate with
people around you usually in business or work places.
It’s noteworthy that there are hundreds
of thousands of skills in existence such as sporting skill, cultural skill,
installation skill, maintenance skill, manufacturing skill, management skill
and what have you.
Skill is required in every area
of human endeavour and it enables the entrepreneurship drive of any nation to
be actualized. The most important aspect of skill acquisition is that it
benefits all classes in any society involved especially the masses.
A small or medium scale entrepreneur is expected to hire many skilled
people to take on tasks that are outside of his/her skill set. However, every
individual either a prospective leader or business personnel, must relentlessly
strive to acquire the skills that will make him/her a great leader or a
successful businessperson, as the case may be.
Someone who has commenced a business or trade venture owing to his
specialized skills and knowledge related to a particular service or product is
required to expand his skills to be a successful entrepreneur. Such measure is
referred to as ‘skill enhancement’. No doubt, improving skills related to
acquiring money or raising capital for a business boost represents the
difference between success and failure of the venture in question.
Unequivocally, being good at starting a
business does not automatically make one good at planning for growth. He or she
must acquire planning skills that tie his/her vision to practical steps, which
the business can take to realize that vision. The acquisition of the
aforementioned skill is important because without it, your firm or business
venture can stagnate and lose out to the competition.
One may have envisioned a smooth rise to the top when he commenced his
business, but the truth is that he will surely encounter crisis or challenging
situations. Whether it has to do with shortage of money or the loss of his
facilities to a fire disaster, he must acquire the skills that would enable him
to remain calm in times of turmoil and maintain his ability to make adequate
decisions.
The above step is very vital because the affected person can learn to
triumph when it looks like he could be defeated. Needless to say that skill
acquisition in decision making remains an inevitable tool while carrying out a
business strategy.
On the other hand, the importance
of acquiring strong communication skills will be evident in all of one’s
entrepreneurial activities. From networking to leadership, one needs to
constantly and consistently update his communication skills to enable him form
alliances and encourage consensus.
Taking Nigeria as a case study, you would notice that most of our young
ones, or the youth, are potentially preoccupied with variety of skills in
various areas of human endeavour ranging from culture to sports, engineering/sciences,
art works, and leadership, that need to be develop with a view to strengthening
their respective entrepreneurship prowess towards nation-building.
To this end, there is need to encourage our
young ones to be acquainted as well as acquire proficiency in one skill or the
other within their reach. The schools can help in this regard by ensuring that
the pupils or students regularly create time for guidance and counselling
during their school hours.
A good counselling would enable each of them to discover their potential
skills or abilities, thereby making them develop an interest in that area. The
parents and guardians on their part should not hesitate to boost the morale of
their children or wards in any skill they are fit in by providing all the
needed materials or facilities for them to excel.
Inter alia, there is an urgent need to revive the various technical
colleges and commercial schools situated across the federation that are
currently moribund. And at the tertiary level, the ‘Entrepreneurship Studies’,
which are usually done by the undergraduates as general studies, ought to be
taken more seriously by the various school managements.
In the same vein, the ongoing Industrial Training (IT) and Teaching
Practice (TP) schemes being observed by the Universities/Polytechnics and
Colleges of Education, respectively must be intensified by the concerned
authorities.
Above all, the various cultural heritages across the country need to be
revisited with a view to harnessing the required ones. This will go a long way
towards discovering and reawakening thousands of skills among our numerous
youths.
As Imolites, and Nigerians in general, join the rest of the world to
commemorate the annual World Youth Skills Day, it’s imperative for the governments
at all levels, the civil society, religious bodies, corporate organizations,
and well-meaning individuals to intensify awareness on the importance of skills
acquisition as well as look for a way they can contribute their respective
quotas in the crusade with a view to eradicating the socio-economic crisis
currently ravaging the country.
There could not be a better time for such consignment than now. Think
about it!
FDN Nwaozor
National Coordinator, Right Thinkers
Movement
__________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056
Twitter: @mediambassador
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