A business group wants to change how Nigeria trains young people for jobs. The Institute of Business Development, led by Alhaji Sadiku Rafindadi, proposed these reforms at a conference in Abuja. They introduced the Innovative Empowerment Community Network, or IECN, as a unifying plan. This system would link training centers with unemployed youth and elderly citizens needing care.
The IBD president criticized current skills programs. He said offering cash incentives attracts the wrong participants. The new approach would hide any startup grants during recruitment. The goal is to select people who truly want to learn, not just collect handouts. Rewards would come only after completing certification.
Regarding the trend of youths leaving the country, known as JAPA, the group proposed a different path. They want to work with foreign governments on labor agreements. The aim is to export skilled professionals, not desperate migrants. These workers could then send earnings and taxes back to Nigeria.
Their plan also addresses elder care through a formal system called the Care Revolutionary Ecosystem. Trained youths would provide secure, professional home care for seniors. This would create jobs and give dignity to the aging population. A national caregiver registry linked to security agencies would vet all workers for safety.
The IBD positioned itself as an implementation partner for these ideas. It urged the government to adopt the merit-based IECN model over politicized programs. It asked the diplomatic community to help standardize Nigerian workers' skills for overseas opportunities. The private sector was called on to invest in this overall ecosystem.
The IBD president criticized current skills programs. He said offering cash incentives attracts the wrong participants. The new approach would hide any startup grants during recruitment. The goal is to select people who truly want to learn, not just collect handouts. Rewards would come only after completing certification.
Regarding the trend of youths leaving the country, known as JAPA, the group proposed a different path. They want to work with foreign governments on labor agreements. The aim is to export skilled professionals, not desperate migrants. These workers could then send earnings and taxes back to Nigeria.
Their plan also addresses elder care through a formal system called the Care Revolutionary Ecosystem. Trained youths would provide secure, professional home care for seniors. This would create jobs and give dignity to the aging population. A national caregiver registry linked to security agencies would vet all workers for safety.
The IBD positioned itself as an implementation partner for these ideas. It urged the government to adopt the merit-based IECN model over politicized programs. It asked the diplomatic community to help standardize Nigerian workers' skills for overseas opportunities. The private sector was called on to invest in this overall ecosystem.
