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Tamale, Ghana – Abukari Baba Sumaila, Tamale Metropolitan Director of the National Youth Authority (NYA) in the Northern Region of Ghana, has underscored the need for National Service Personnel who were about to end their service soon to cultivate the habit of volunteerism so as to build their capacity for the job market.
According to Mr. Sumaila, there were more university graduates now in the country, and on yearly basis, thousands more enter the job market, thereby making it difficult for many people to get their desired jobs.
“In Ghana, our tertiary institutions produce 68,000 graduates every year and currently as we sit we have an estimated number of 600,000 unemployed graduates in the job market and this call for us as graduates to strategically position ourselves in this highly competitive job market.
…..I admonish and encourage you to consider volunteerism as your next step as you relentlessly seek for job opportunities. Volunteer in institutions to get more experience and exposure to the competitive job market”, he opined.
Adding, he said “…..one of the best ways one can secure a befitting job is “NETWORKING”. Let’s make sure we create network with individuals who are in advantageous positions and will be willing to help us genuinely.”
Mr. Sumaila said these when he gave a speech at the Northern Youth Entrepreneurship Summit organized by the Tamale Metro branch of the National Service Personnel Association (NASPA) with support from the NYA and AfriTech in Tamale.
He said, not all university graduates would be able to secure their desired jobs due to the large numbers that were being churned out by the country’s universities and other tertiary institutions and also because government lack the finances.
“Fellow graduates in as much as we are positioning ourselves in search of jobs at this crucial stage of our career, let’s also be mindful of the fact that not all of us will be able to secure our desired jobs in the shortest possible time. This is as a result of the fact that, the number of unemployed graduates in the country has overwhelmed government in terms of finances.
…..we can only confront this highly competitive job market by mastering how to draft a “catchy and convincing CV” and learning of basic job interviewing skills that will offer us the edge to compete with others.”
Mr. Sumaila also indicated that, the NYA believed that the youth of Ghana were the greatest resources and assets the country had and “we must do everything possible to empower them to create jobs, employ others and make wealth.
Entrepreneurial leaders are the future and we have a huge role to play in helping young adults to develop their entrepreneurial capabilities, discover entrepreneurial mindset, turn their ideas into opportunities and put their dreams into actions and this is why we are here today.”
Osman Sharif, NASPA Tamale Metro President in an interview with SavannahNews, said it became necessary to organize the summit because many of his colleagues after completing their service would be faced with the reality of unemployment.
“We saw the need to prepare the NASPA members and other youth by building their capacities with essential skills that would put them ahead of their peers in the job market. There are limited jobs out there and those who have relevant skills get access to those jobs”, he pointed out.
He also emphasized the need for all NASPA members to endeavor to learn more skills and volunteer to organisations after their service so as to build the relevant connections and experience that could secure them their desired jobs as graduates.
The one-day summit brought together about 300 NASPA members and some youth of the Tamale Metropolis to learn how to write proposals, business plans, digital marketing, customer relations, curriculum vitae writing and job interview skills.
By SavannahNewsOnline.Com/Joseph Ziem
