Governor Hope Uzodimma has urged youths in Imo State to acquire practical and employable skills to improve their chances in Nigeria's growing labour market.

The governor, represented by his Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals, Chinenyenwa Owuamalam, made the call on Saturday at the Owerri Career Day organised by Boss Resources and Consults Limited.

He encouraged young people to remain willing to learn, develop the right attitude, and become positive agents of change. He also appealed to employers to be patient with young workers as they gain experience and build their careers.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of Boss Resources and Consults Limited, Francis Owums, said the problem was not the lack of jobs but the shortage of qualified candidates with the right skills, professionalism, and work ethic.

He revealed that some companies now prefer hiring workers from outside Imo because they struggle to find suitable candidates locally. According to him, a management position with a monthly salary of nearly ₦500,000 has remained vacant for weeks due to the inability to find the right person.

Owums urged youths to take advantage of career development opportunities to improve their skills and increase their employability.

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Thrive Leadership Consult, Joyce Kenneth, encouraged young people to stay focused, embrace personal growth, and avoid get-rich-quick schemes. The Director of Human Resources at the Niger Delta Development Commission, Kelechi Nwelue, also urged youths to participate in the commission's skills acquisition and empowerment programmes to improve their future prospects.

[NAN]