Young people in Ondo State have been urged to pursue self-reliance by acquiring entrepreneurial skills and creating businesses, rather than depending solely on office-based employment.
An Ondo-based entrepreneur, Sherif Omoleke, gave the advice while speaking to youths in Akure on Friday, warning that Nigeria’s rising unemployment could persist unless graduates change their mindset after leaving school.
According to Omoleke, the era when graduates could rely on salaried jobs is fast fading, making entrepreneurship a necessary path rather than an option.
“White-collar jobs are no longer available the way they used to be. If graduates begin to think about business creation early, unemployment will reduce significantly,” he said.
He encouraged students to start preparing for life after school by developing practical and income-generating skills, stressing that waiting endlessly for office jobs only worsens joblessness among young people.
Omoleke also urged youths to see themselves as potential employers of labour, not job seekers, adding that entrepreneurship remains a viable route to economic independence.
On the role of government, he called for stronger support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), noting that a business-friendly environment would help address unemployment and reduce youth-related social problems.
“When small businesses are supported, jobs are created, and many social challenges linked to unemployment will be tackled,” he added.
He concluded by stressing that empowering youths through enterprise development is critical to the state’s economic growth and long-term stability.
