By RAZAQ BAMIDELE

London, Jan. 14, 2019 (AltAfrica)-In a bid to reduce search for white cola jobs young school leavers in Nigeria, about 150 youths from Lagos state, South West Nigeria have taken part in free training programme on snail farming

The one day programme was put together by a lawmaker, a member of Lagos State House of Assembly, south-west, Hon. Gbolahan Olusegun Yishawu (GOY) representing Eti-Osa constituency 2

The participants were taught the practical aspect of snail farming and how to survive in the business.

In a chat with  Alternativeafrica.com the lawmaker said the”the essence of the training is to diversify economy from oil to Agriculture as part of federal government agenda with the sole aim of making the youths self-employed.”

READ ALSO: MY SECURITY OFFICERS NOT WITHDRAWN-CJN ONNOGHEN REFUTES FALSE MEDIA REPORT

Yishawu therefore promised to support best 10 students after the training by giving them necessary support needed to thrive in the business, adding that the employability programme would continue even after the election.

The lawmaker also made provisions for materials to all the participants that will help them in snail farming after the training. They also received certificates of participation in the training.

The problem confronting the nation now, according to him, is youth unemployment, reasoning that, “if the teeming youth of the country are self-employed, they will be financially independent and economically self-reliant,”

He noted that “empowerment of the youths is not the sole responsibility of the government but a collective responsibility of the generality of the citizenry.”

In an interview with one of the participants, Sasera Michael appreciated the kind gesture of Hon. Yishawu saying the training to him had no political motives.

According to him, it is rather about bringing the youths in particular into limelight of how to fish for themselves rather than being fed with the fish.

“The training has motivated me to create a platform for other jobless youths. This training is not about academic qualifications, but about having something doing. I will also be an employer of labour with this training I have received on Snail farming”, Sasera added.

On her part, Ibrahim Hauwa Mawedo, another participant said she was interested in snail farming before coming to the training, saying the training served as an opening door for her to start her own business.

“Whether I fall among the first 10 that would receive assistance or not, I am going to start my own snail farming immediately after the training. I appreciate the lawmaker for the training”, she stated.   

One of the instructors, Mr. Evans Timothy encouraged unemployed youth in the country to embrace green collar jobs rather than their emphasis on white collar jobs..

“We give the best practices locally as farming of today is different from that of old and we promote organic farming. For the unemployed youth that are interested in agro-agriculture, we also start them up in the area of finance and the technical aspect because they need the skills to succeed on their own,” he submitted.