The world is currently facing a youth employment crisis. Despite sizeable gains in educational access and attainment across the world over the past decade, young people aged 15-24 are now three times more likely than adults to be unemployed (ILO, 2012). One of the main reasons for high youth unemployment across the world is a growing mismatch between the supply and demand for skills, which disproportionately affects young people in developing countries. Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is increasingly being viewed as a potential solution to the youth employment crisis. TVET’s orientation towards the world of work and the acquisition of employable skills means that it is well placed to overcome the skills mismatch issues that have impeded smooth education-to-employment transitions for many young people.

The overarching objective of the panel is to discuss how skills acquisition/development can address growing numbers of youth unemployment. Panelists will join the discussion to exchange experiences and contribute innovative ideas and promising practices, which have contributed to enhancing youth employability and open-up self-employment opportunities. The discussions will seek experiences, expertise and feedback and wish to inspire young people to take further action.

 

The panel session will address the objective by focusing on three specific themes.

1. Key barriers that young people face in finding work

• Lack of relevant skills
Lack of information about the labour market:
Lack of entrepreneurship skills to create new jobs:
• Inhospitable investment climate discouraging entrepreneurship and job creation:

 

2. Private sector partnership with educational institutions

 

3. Entrepreneurship education (EE)

Entrepreneurship education is a vital route for tackling youth unemployment for several reasons:

• It can create jobs for young people when there are few job vacancies – and can result in multiplier effects, since successful businesses can generate further jobs.
• It can inject innovation and dynamism into an economy.
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• t can provide jobs for women and other marginalized groups who find it difficult to get hired due to discrimination.

 

Distinguished Members of the Panel

The panel will bring together the following experts for discussion

• Desmond Olusola Elliot – Member, LSHA
• Adenike Ogunlesi – CEO, Ruff n Tumble
• (Mrs.) Ibilola Amao – Principal Consultant, Lonadek
• Mai Atafo – CEO, MAI Inspired
• Adebola Williams – Co, Founder RED Media
• Shogo Oyeniyi – Comedian & EMCEE (Panel Moderator)