UN envoy seeks entrepreneurship training for youth

A United Nations special envoy, Mr Jakaya Kikwete, has advocated the need for government and other concerned stakeholders to empower Nigerian youths with skill-based education and entrepreneurial initiatives capable of sustaining them and the nation at large.

Kiwete, a former President of Tanzania who visited Lagos recently was received by his friend and business tycoon, Emperor Chris Baywood Ibe, and former foreign affairs minister, Mr Odein Ajumogobia.

The envoy said he also met with the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, voiced concerns on the chances of many youth being thrown out of job with the advancement of technology.

“I’m a special envoy of the International Commission on Financing of Global Education Opportunity. It is a commission that was set up in September 2015 to do an in-depth study of the state of education in the world,” he explained his mission.

He noted that eight of the 27 members of the commission are Africans of which two - Aliko Dangote and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala are Nigerians. “Already, we have finished our work and now we are at the stage of telling the leaders of the world our work,” Kiwete added.

The envoy also said the Commission will work with credible private entities like the Baywood Foundation pioneered by Emperor Ibe as the Foundation champions investments in youth education.

Emperor Ibe who lauded the envoy’s concern for youth said his Foundation will soon stage a one-million-youth rally in Abuja “to draw the attention of critical stakeholders to the plights of Nigerian youth.”