Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has urged young people in the state to develop practical and employable skills, saying Nigeria’s growing labour market offers opportunities for those who are adequately prepared.
The governor made the call during the Owerri Career Day, organised by Boss Resources and Consults Limited, a business development, management and consulting firm. Represented by his Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals, Chinenyenwa Owuamalam, Uzodimma encouraged youths to embrace continuous learning and position themselves as positive agents of change.
He also appealed to employers to show patience with young professionals as they build experience and sharpen their skills, noting that mentorship and support are essential in developing the next generation of workers.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of Boss Resources and Consults Limited, Chief Francis Owums, lamented what he described as the declining employability of many young people in Imo State despite increasing job opportunities.
According to him, the challenge is no longer the availability of jobs but the shortage of candidates with the right mix of technical skills, professionalism, emotional intelligence and work ethic required by employers.
“Many investors opening businesses in Owerri specifically request that we recruit from outside Imo—not because they dislike the state or its people, but because confidence has been lost somewhere along the line,” Owums said.
He revealed that his firm is currently recruiting for a management position with a salary close to ₦500,000 per month, yet has struggled for weeks to find a suitably qualified candidate despite extensive advertising and interviews.
Owums urged participants to use the career programme to network with industry professionals, acquire relevant knowledge and make the personal and professional adjustments needed to become more competitive in today’s job market.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Thrive Leadership Consult, Joyce Kenneth, encouraged young people to adopt a resilient mindset, remain focused and reject the lure of get-rich-quick schemes. She stressed that long-term success comes through value creation, discipline and continuous self-improvement.
The Director of Human Resources at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Kelechi Nwelue, also called on youths to take advantage of the commission’s skills acquisition and empowerment programmes, describing them as valuable platforms for career development and entrepreneurship.
