World Youth Skills Day – Ancient Advice for a Modern Need

The United Nations General Assembly declared 15 July as World Youth Skills Day.

The day is dedicated to celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship. The 2024 Youth Skills Day is themed by the United Nations: “Youth Skills for Peace and Development.” And how appropriate! A gainfully employed youth is a catalyst for peace and development. Afterall, an idle mind is the Devil’s workshop.

Some of the key issues facing youths in recent times include violent conflicts disrupting education and stability, a polarized online environment fostering negativity and discrimination, and persistent economic inequality that limits opportunities, according the United Nations website, https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-youth-skills-day. Further, a recent presentation by Jama Onwubuariri, Managing Director of Trucks Transit Parks Ltd, at the launch of the Education-to-Employment Clinic at the University of Lagos, Nigeria, identified 5 challenges affecting youths in their quest for education – lack of adequate funds for their education, peer pressure, distractions, high expectations of others and uncertainty about the future.

To acquire skills that would enable them become confident and self-sufficient, youths need a stable learning and nurturing environment, an increasingly difficult ask in today’s world. The United Nations and various member states and partner organisations have organised several activities to mark the day, but also to encourage youths, parents and countries to take specific, targeted action that would ensure a sustainable future for youths everywhere.

Although this date is marked by various events and initiatives every year since the declaration of the UN General Assembly in 2014 recognising the day, the challenge of youth unemployment and underlying skill deficiency persist. In addition, new threats to youths learning sustainable skills or getting employment have emerged, such as automation, robotics and artificial intelligence. Therefore, initiatives, such as the United Nations Incheon Declaration (“ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”) and others like the University of Lagos Education-to-Employment Clinic are welcome developments.

However, an ancient book of wisdom, the Bible, contains sustainable advice for youths who seek a fulfilling life. At Ecclesiastes 10:10, it encourages proficiency in one’s endeavour, stating: If an iron tool is dull and one does not sharpen its edge, he will need to exert much effort. But wisdom helps to achieve success. Youths who acquire useful skills and become proficient in them are assured of success. In addition, the Bible encourages that such skills, also referred to as discipline, should be learned early in life. As stated at Lamentations 3:27, Good it is for a man to carry the yoke during his youth. Interestingly, the UN Incheon Declaration in favour of lifelong learning seems to echo the words of Proverbs 1:5: A wise person listens and takes in more instruction.

In discussing “10 principles to enable youths transition from Education to Employment”, Mr. Onwubuariri listed the following:

i. Identify your passion

ii. Minimize distractions

iii. Find and solve socio-economic problems around you

iv. Be a team player

v. Be prepared for disappointments

vi. Have a mindset to create jobs

vii. Maintain relationships;

viii. Be prompt and

ix. Avoid destructive habits.

In this internet age, there is no shortage of resources for youths in any sphere of knowledge. However, the seeming superabundance of information brings another challenge, finding reliable and trust-worthy guidance. Across the world, the greater majority of mankind believe in the divine, a higher form of life, as being responsible for human life on earth. In the Bible, for instance, Genesis 1:27 states that “God went on to create the man… male and female.” And in Ephesians 3:15, it further states that “Every family… on earth owes its name to [God]”.

The website, jw.org, contained hundred of books, magazines and tracts, with a significant portion of these dedicated to Bible principles for youths. Feedback from readers show that these Biblical injunctions have helped millions to enjoy a happy, successful life. Some of the books and articles on youths available on the jw.org website include:

Whether young or older, you too can find the reliable guidance of Bible principles to be effective in dealing with the challenges of modern life. The Bible has proven to be a time-tested guide to finding true happiness.

As the world celebrates the Youth Skill Day of, it is reassuring to know that indeed, youths could be happy and successful, and that a reliable guide to achieving this is readily available.

From: Nigeria Branch Office of Jehovah’s Witnesses

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