NIGERIA: YOUNG ACHIEVERS BRIDGE GAP BETWEEN

UNCLAS LAGOS 000765 SIPDIS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - HANDLE ACCORDINGLY SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W TREASURY FOR DPETERS, RHALL, RABDULRAZAK ENERGY FOR PERSON, GAY COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS STATE PASS USTR FOR LISER, AGAMA STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR KSAMPLE STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN, MSTUCKART, JEDWARDS STATE PASS TDA FOR EEBONG, DSHUSTER STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER STATE PASS USAID FOR NFREEMAN, GBERTOLIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON SOCI NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: YOUNG ACHIEVERS BRIDGE GAP BETWEEN COLLEGE AND WORK WORLD ¶1. (U) Summary: President Abbaly Johnson and other members of the Young Achievers Network told EconCouns Nigeria's system of higher education fails completely to prepare students for jobs. Young Achievers bridge the gap by engaging youth in conferences, volunteer activities and other interventions. End Summary. -------------- -------------- Campus Achievers Network Helps Ready Youths for Jobs -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) Members of the Young Achievers Network, a group founded by Abbally Johnson to help college students met with EconCouns November 13 in Lagos. The group holds leadership conferences, provides volunteer opportunities, and is active on 30 campuses across Nigeria. Johnson said his vision is to help youth learn from the example provided by other like-minded students, and has set up an extensive network to provide positive, non-corrupt role models and training. -------------- -- DISCONNECT BETWEEN EDUCATION AND THE WORK WORLD -------------- -- ¶3. (U) The participants described the disconnect between the education system from which most of them had recently graduated and the world of work. They described students who majored in computer programming but who had no computers to practice on, and friends and family members who, when lucky enough to find employment, required training for up to six months to one year in order to do their jobs. Employers who failed to build in a significant training program for new hires would have employees unable to do the job, they said. -------------- DELTA YOUTH HAVE LOST HOPE -------------- ¶4. (SBU) One participant from the Niger Delta explained that youth in the Delta were particularly disadvantaged. Their traditional values have been completely corrupted. They see kidnapping as a source of future income, and drop out of school because they don't see the need for or benefit of education. Niger Delta society has collapsed, he said. Even more strongly indicative of this collapse is the fact that the youth no longer listen to traditional elders, something that had been unthinkable until recently, he said. -------------- POLITICAL OPTIMISM FOR YAR'ADUA'S REGIME -------------- ¶5. (SBU) When asked their opinion of President Yar,Adua, the participants replied that they, like the rest of the country, are waiting to see what the President will do. He was unknown before his election as President, and society must give him the opportunity to prove himself. When EconCouns asked what they thought of President Yar,Adua,s budget submission, in particular his emphasis on education, the Young Achievers expressed hope that the funds would improve the situation. ¶6. (U) This cable has been coordinated with Embassy Abuja. HUTCHINSON