Abuja: The Minister of Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande, has urged Nigerian youths to embrace skills acquisition and self-development to become productive and self-reliant. Olawande delivered this message during a meeting with Joshua Aiyenuro, who recently achieved a Guinness World Records milestone for the longest professional hairdressing marathon, lasting 72 hours in Nasarawa State on January 29.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the minister highlighted the potential of Nigerian youths to excel when they focus on honing their talents and skills. He emphasized the importance of self-projection and visibility, stating, “You need to know what you want. It is not just about condemning things about your country, but projecting yourself and making sure you are visible.” Olawande further stressed the value of acquiring practical skills alongside formal education, urging youths to embrace the ministry’s mantra of “one youth, two skills.”
Olawande also mentioned efforts to strengthen programmes under th
e National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to help young Nigerians acquire vocational and entrepreneurial skills. Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, the Director-General of NYSC, praised Aiyenuro’s accomplishment as inspirational for the youth. He reiterated NYSC’s commitment to skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development, encouraging corps members to pursue additional skills in fields such as barbing, hairdressing, and fashion designing.
Joshua Aiyenuro expressed his achievement as a dream realized and shared his vision to empower Nigerian youths through vocational training. He announced plans to establish 1,000 barber seats nationwide and expand into other vocational skills to combat unemployment, crime, and drug abuse. Tina Orjir, President of the National Association of Hair and Beauty Practitioners of Nigeria, called on the Federal Government to support the beauty industry, stressing its potential to reduce youth unemployment and insecurity in the country.