BY EMMA PETER, ABUJA
The Executive Chairman of Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State, Hon. Aruwe Tunbosun Haruna, has urged Nigerian youths to embrace skills acquisition and vocational training as essential pathways to economic independence and national development.
Haruna made the call while addressing journalists at the State House, Abuja, on the sidelines of the 2026 National Industrial Manpower Summit (NIMS 2026), where he described the initiative as a laudable programme designed to empower young people with practical skills and enable them to become self-reliant.
He said the summit provided an important platform for promoting youth empowerment, stressing that equipping young people with relevant vocational and technical skills would help them earn a living, support their families and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s economic growth.
According to him, the initiative reflects the importance of preparing young Nigerians for the future by exposing them to opportunities that go beyond conventional academic qualifications.
He noted that acquiring one or two practical skills could make a significant difference in the lives of young people by improving their ability to secure employment, establish businesses and become financially independent.
“The programme is all about empowering the youths and helping them acquire two or three skills so that they can benefit from the dividends of democracy. They should be able to feed themselves and their families,” he said.
The Mushin council chairman described the summit as an opportunity for government to connect with young people and demonstrate the practical benefits of governance through programmes that directly improve their livelihoods.
He emphasised the need to catch young people early by introducing them to skills development and vocational education, noting that such an approach would prepare them to become productive members of society.
Haruna also encouraged youths to take skills acquisition seriously, urging them to pay attention to the presentations and recommendations made by speakers at the summit.
Referring to remarks by the commissioner who addressed participants at the event, he expressed support for the idea of integrating practical skills training into the educational system to ensure that students graduate with competencies that can help them earn a living.
He said the approach would enable young people to combine formal education with practical knowledge, thereby improving their readiness for employment and entrepreneurship.
The council chairman further stressed that youth development must remain a priority at the grassroots level, where local governments are strategically positioned to identify the needs of young people and create opportunities for their advancement.
Speaking on efforts to engage youths in Mushin, Haruna said his administration remained committed to issues affecting young people, adding that the council’s activities and programmes could be assessed through its official social media platforms.
He explained that his participation in NIMS 2026 would provide an opportunity to share the lessons learnt at the summit with residents of Mushin, particularly young people who could benefit from vocational training and other empowerment initiatives.
“We don’t joke with anything that has to do with the youths. What we learn from here, we are taking it back home to tell our people in Mushin that these are the things we have gained from Abuja and that we should emulate them,” he said.
He expressed optimism that adopting effective skills development strategies at the local government level would contribute to reducing unemployment, promoting entrepreneurship and strengthening the capacity of young Nigerians to participate in economic activities.
The National Industrial Manpower Summit 2026 brings together stakeholders to discuss human capital development, industrial manpower, skills acquisition and strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s workforce.
The summit provides a platform for government officials, industry players and other stakeholders to explore practical approaches to developing a skilled workforce capable of supporting national productivity, innovation and industrial transformation.
