The European Union in its determination to lift millions out of the poverty ratio has stepped up its game to address the skills gap in Nigeria’s employment sector particularly among youths to drive the economic prosperity the nation deserves.
The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms Samuela Isopi disclosed this at a Stakeholders Conference hosted by European Business (Eurocham) in Lagos Nigeria.
She said Youth, Education, Employability and Skills (YEES!) are the topmost priority of the European Union, thus bringing to its constant partnership with countries to accelerate gains.
According to her, Eurocham Nigeria is a collaborative initiative between the Nigerian Government and key stakeholders to build employable skills in the country.
“Demography has the potential to help transform Nigeria; but it also poses challenges in terms of demand for quality education, skill development and employment.
With young people making up 70% of Nigeria’s population, the EU has prioritised the youth across all areas of its cooperation with the country. Under the Team Europe Initiative “Investing in Young Businesses in Africa” (IYBA) launched in Nigeria last year, the EU is rolling out a number of regional and national projects aimed at enhancing job creation for the youth, and improving their employability and entrepreneurship.
The number of young Nigerians awarded scholarships under Erasmus+, the EU’s flagship programme for education, training and youth development, has quadrupled in the last four years, rising to over 200 in 2022, and making Nigeria the country with the second-highest number of Erasmus+ scholarships worldwide.
Also recognising that youth empowerment is critical in the perspective of coming general elections, the EU has put the youth and their role in democratic governance first, through programmes aimed at mobilizing Nigerian youth to register and vote
The European Union is the leading contributor to the Jubilee Fellowship fund. Eurocham member companies are notable destinations for the interns, with 16 already participating in the innovative programme.”
The 27 Member States of the EU are currently in Nigeria, as the largest foreign investor with total Foreign Direct Investments stock estimated at 23 billion euros and the biggest trading partner, with a trade value of about 29 billion euros a year and a balance.
