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.
The theme of the fair was: “Promoting Employability for National Development.”
Olawale said that the platform would create an 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 counseling; we have counselors 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 the 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 every day 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 an effort to get working experience early in life.
“You need to be updated every day 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 to add it to your curriculum vitae; it does not matter the kind of job, cause this is what employers look out for,” he said.
A 22-year-old job seeker, Miss Olubukola Sekoni, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that she hoped to get a job at the fair.
Sekoni said, “I am here because I am searching for a job.
“However, I hope to interact with various professionals from different companies to search for job opportunities.
“Also, I want to be counseled and trained on what job seekers need to do and be informed about what employers look out for when it comes to skills and values they must have when searching for candidates to employ,” she said
