The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) says it is set to intervene and solve unemployment in the country by building on its first edition of Job Fair 2020.
Its Director-General, Mr. Timothy Olawale, made this known at the first series of Job Fair 2020 on Thursday in Lagos.
Theme of the fair was: “Promoting Employability for National Development.”
Olawale said that the platform would create opportunity for people who were resourceful and sound to get instant employment.
“It gives job seekers the opportunity to interface with the companies; it is not just that you have sent in your papers.
“You can discuss with them and the companies will advise you on what job opportunities are there.
“The job fair is also an opportunity for job seekers to be exposed to sound career counselling; we have counsellors who can guide you on the way to go for you to be employable and secure employment.
“This is the first of its series and we will continue to build on it.
“Hopefully and subsequently, we will bring in international partners, because NECA belongs to International Organisation of Employers,” he said.
Olawale said that resorting to self-help and skills development was another way to combating unemployment.
He said that NECA had started a technical skills development project in partnership with ITF.
According to him, the project has helped in combating the issue of unemployment in the country’s system to a large extent.
“We also started NECApreneur which is to teach our youths online modules on how to become entrepreneurs themselves.
“Also, so that they have every opportunity they can send for themselves and also brainstorm to support the society to tackle the issue of unemployment,” the director-general said.
Also, a Guest Speaker, Mr. Tominiyi Oni, Human Resource Director, Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group, urged job seekers to be optimistic, prepared, developed, learn everyday and be informed.
TGI is an international investment and holding company with diverse interests including manufacturing of packaged foods.
Oni also advised the job seekers to make effort to get working experience early in life.
“You need to be updated everyday with your experiences in life and in your career.
“In secondary school, students should get the opportunity to work during long holidays.
“Each time you work add it to your curriculum vitae; it does not matter the kind of job, cause this is what employers look out for,” he said.
