A professor of Vocational and Technical Education, Prof. Mrs. Ethel Idialu has identified acquisition of entrepreneurial skills alongside paper qualifications, as the most potent weapon to overcome the fierce confrontation of poverty in the country.

Prof. idialu who is a lecturer in the department of Vocational and Technical Education, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, made the call while delivering the 4th Annual Josémaria Escriva Foundation Lecture Series; titled,’ “Beyond Paper Qualification: Reinventing Entrepreneurial Skills as Alternative to Fighting Poverty in Nigeria”.

According to her, the recommendation was in tandem with the recommendations of the United Nations and World Bank through their Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

She lamented that poverty with its attendant consequences such as crimes, prostitution, rituals, fraud, migration and others, was negatively impacting the co-existence of persons in the country.

“To move away from these vices Nigerian youths must be re-oriented to look beyond paper qualifications and employment to be able to earn a living.

“Entrepreneurial skills offer a way out of poverty and it is a route to fostering the economic development of communities at the “base of the pyramid.

“They are essential elements for reducing poverty and improving the economic development of families who are in need. Acquisition of entrepreneurial skills is a sure way to reduce poverty, and create income and employment for the teaming population”, she said.

The chief Responsibility Officer of Josémaria Escriva Foundation, Comrade Dr. Jude Obasanmi remarked that the Josémaria Escriva Foundation annual lecture series provides opportunity for discussion of issues affecting the society.

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He explained that the theme of the lecture was usually tailored to address contemporary and trending issues in the society, that if not quickly addressed could affect major fabric of the existence of the people.

He noted that this year’s theme was necessitated by the current economic status of Nigeria, which made economic experts speculate that the number of poor persons in Nigeria may rise to 95.1 million in 2022.

He said Josémaria Escriva Foundation is a Non-Governmental Organisaion committed to improving the quality of life of people; hence it had been involved in several activities in the area of education, health, community mobilisation, good governance and transparency.

He revealed for instance that the foundation recently trained 70 teachers in Esan West and Esan Central Local Government Areas on various ways of designing and using some teaching and learning materials, as well as empowering 30 public Primary Schools, among other many activities.

The chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT), Josémaria Escriva Foundation, Prof. Matthew Izibili in his speech said creating the much needed awareness on issues had become part of the most cherished responsibility of the foundation.

Prof. izibili pointed out that the 2022 edition of the annual lecture was special because it was combined with the presentation of awards to deserving personalities.

Highpoints of the event were the presentation of awards to the awardees as well as the question and answer segments.