By Sadiq Abdulfatah

The Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Centre has identified early skills acquisition as a practical way to reduce youth unemployment in Nigeria, urging young people to learn vocational and digital skills alongside formal education.

The centre made the call during a youth empowerment and skills acquisition programme held in Agege, where tertiary students and graduates received training in high-demand skills needed in today’s job market. The initiative was designed to reduce dependence on white-collar jobs and improve participants’ employment and business opportunities.

Speaking at the event, the Lagos Coordinator of Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Centre, Abdulrahman Thabit, said the empowerment programme, which began in 2024, has already transformed the lives of hundreds of beneficiaries who are now building careers with the skills they acquired.

Thabit said the centre hopes to raise a new generation inspired by Abdur Rahman ibn Awf, who rebuilt his life through trade after migrating from Makkah to Madinah. He explained that the programme is aimed at encouraging young people to pursue financial independence through hard work rather than waiting for salaried employment.

He added that the training is open to everyone, regardless of religious background, and that the centre plans to train at least 100 people every year in different vocational skills, by the will of Allah.

Programme Coordinator Mariam Mohammed stressed the need for parents to introduce their children to skills acquisition from their teenage years. She noted that technological advancement and social media have made learning new skills easier and more important than ever. She added that the centre’s goal is not only to train participants but also to prepare them to become trainers in the future.

Mohammed, however, expressed disappointment over the low turnout of shortlisted applicants, saying many people who were successfully screened failed to attend the programme despite the training being offered free of charge. She observed that people often attach less value to opportunities that come at no cost.

Participants described the initiative as beneficial and life-changing, praising the organisers for equipping young people with practical skills that can improve their future and reduce unemployment.

Source: The Guardian