The Greater Accra Regional Director of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Mathias Kofi Blay, has urged young people across the country to acquire vocational and technical skills alongside their academic qualifications to improve their chances of securing employment and creating sustainable livelihoods.

Mr Blay made the call during a two-day workshop organized for the newly inaugurated Okaikwe South District Youth Committee.

He explained that the committee was established to identify unemployment challenges among young people in the district and propose practical solutions.

Addressing participants, he stressed that university and tertiary education should be complemented with employable skills that can open doors to opportunities beyond traditional office work.

“Whatever programme that you pursue at the university or at any tertiary institution, make sure that you also go ahead and undertake a vocational or technical skill. Get a skill, acquire a skill in addition to your degree,” he advised.

According to him, practical skills often create employment opportunities faster than academic certificates alone.

He cited areas such as excavator operation, surveying, and other technical trades as examples of skills that can provide immediate job prospects.

Mr Blay further advocated for the expansion of technical and engineering-oriented programmes in the country’s tertiary institutions to encourage more young people to pursue careers in technical fields.

He noted that while government and employers have a responsibility to create opportunities, young people must also take proactive steps to equip themselves with relevant skills to contribute meaningfully to national development.

The Okaikwe District Youth Committee is expected to assess unemployment issues within the district and recommend interventions following the workshop.