By Doyin Adeleye & Promise Ezekiel

The decline of traditional craftsmanship and the shortage of skilled workers are contributing significantly to the rising unemployment rate in Nigeria.

In a recent interview with The Hope, the Director General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, lamented the scarcity of artisans in the country.

He raised concern regarding the current reliance on foreign artisans from countries like Togo, Ghana, Japan, and Benin Republic, who often find lucrative jobs in Nigeria due to their superior skills.

He added that many Nigerian artisans are not patronised due to the perceived poor quality of their work.

Some of the artisans who spoke with The Hope complained that they hardly get apprentice coming around to acquire skills, unlike in the past.

Our observations across communities also showed that artisans like blacksmiths, goldsmiths, welders, bricklayers, weavers, and ‘aso oke’ makers are rarely seen.

One of the artisans, Mrs. Lawani Oluwatosin, a baker, complained, “As you see my shop, I only have one apprentice .”

“Mot females coming to learn are not stable because they believe learning skills do not generate income.”

She also suggested that parents should encourage their children in skill acquisition, saying that there are no white-collar jobs in  the country.

According to a furniture maker and tiler, Oladimeji Samson, the dearth of artisanship in Nigeria is caused by a lack of patience from both the trainer and the trainee.

He said young people are not ready to endure any form of hardship and would rather engage in fraud (Yahoo Yahoo) or be commercial drivers.

Mr. Femi Adebowale, a blacksmith, attributes the lack of skilled artisans to parental negligence.

“During my time, our parents ensured we acquired skills by working diligently,” he recalled.

Adebowale believes the youth of today do not want to focus on acquiring skills but prefer engaging in faster ways to make money.

“I just hope things can return to how they were before,” he said.

Oghenetega Godwin, who once pursued a career in fashion design, highlighted the financial barriers to skill acquisition.

“Acquiring skills is not the issue; it’s the lack of sponsorship,” he explained.

Godwin stressed the need for government-sponsored skill acquisition programmes to reduce crime rate by engaging the youth productively.

Speaking on the way out,  Muyiwa Ajayi, Director of Artisan Programmes at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, believes early exposure to vocational training can address the artisanship deficit.

He proposed reorientation and awareness campaigns in secondary schools to instill the value of working before earning money.

Mr. Adeleye Kelvin, a lecturer in the Department of Economics at Adekunle Ajasin University, echoed Ajayi’s sentiments.

He urged the government to play a pivotal role in ensuring that students, regardless of their educational level, are trained in their preferred crafts.