The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo State, Dr Wole Olanipekun (SAN), has stated that no nation of the world can be at peace when its youths are unemployed.
Olanipekun stated this while speaking at the 12th and 13th combined convocation ceremonies of the institution recently.
He further stated that the high unemployment rate casts doubts on the hope that youths will constitute the bedrock of the future, warning that a situation where youths and their able-bodied parents are unemployed portends a great danger to the country and urged the government to address the worrisome situation before these youths transfer aggression against not just the system but also the citizens.
Olanipekun said: “There is an imminent danger ahead unless we realistically address this troubling and worrisome situation. No nation can be at peace with itself when both its teeming youths and middle-aged population are wandering and roaming aimlessly in the unemployment market. There is much-transferred malice and aggression arising from this pitiable scenario.
“While Nigerian youths are leaving the country in droves, in search of the proverbial Golden Fleece, the fact remains that it is only a tiny proportion of them that can be accommodated in foreign countries, while a majority of them would be here with us in Nigeria, reminding us of the reality of our predicament. At this stage, we would also be pretending to be sleeping, but with our two eyes open.”
The vice-chancellor of the institution, Professor Timothy Adebayo, said he is optimistic that the graduands will contribute meaningfully to the social and human developments of the country.
“Though unemployment and limited career opportunities for graduates continue to be a big concern for all the stakeholders, our graduates have been equipped with the relevant skills, and we trust that they are competent, and can find their feet in the globally-competitive employment-search markets,” he said.
Prof Adebayo further urged the graduands to look for opportunities beyond their disciplinary boundaries, adding that “what you received here is education. Irrespective of your disciplines, you have been trained to think productively and you are mentally emancipated to surmount challenges that may confront you in your world.”
Tribune
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