The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Olamilekan Adegbite, has appealed to youth to seek out new avenues to grow capacity to become self- sufficient, rather than looking for non-existing white collar jobs.

Adegbite made the remarks at the closing ceremony of a two-day Regional Photography Workshop for youths on Sunday in Ile-Ife, Osun.

The workshop tagged “Beyond light and Shadow”, was organised by Mr Oluwadamilare Fawole, the Senior Special Adviser on Documentation to the Minister.

50 youths drawn from the Southwest states participated in the workshop.

Adegbite, who noted that youth unemployment is a national concern, said there was urgent need for new partnerships and approaches to minimise the challenge.

The Minister was represented virtually at the event by his Senior Special Adviser on Technical, Mr Olusegun Adedayo.

Adegbite said that with youth unemployment numbers growing annually, it was paramount for youths to explore and invest in new ventures, as well as take advantage of the opportunities that the media had created.

” Iam delighted to see that the youth are taking up this innovative, creative, and entrepreneurial skill in building capacity, and setting up their own enterprises, as well as creating more employment opportunities for others.

“Your participation in this Photography class , I believe, has strengthened you practically in the skill of photography and you can apply this into becoming professionals, entrepreneur and developing our dear nation.

“In our dear country Nigeria, youth unemployment is a national concern; new partnerships and approaches can help us in turning tide”, the Minister said.

In his remarks, Fawole said the workshop was organised as part of his contribution to empower youths to be self-reliant.

He said photography, if well managed and packaged could provide a good source of income and livelihood for the youths.

Fawole said since government cannot solve the problem of unemployment alone, he was planning to train and empower 300 youths across the country.

” This is a project to empower the youths in the country. We have done in Nasarawa, which represented North Central , Abia, represented SouthEast, and now Osun representing Southwest”, he said.

Fawole, however, appealed to government to include photography as a course into the educational curriculum in the country.

He said this could be done right from the elementary stage to the higher institution.

He said it was disheartening that no University in the country was offering photography as course in the country.

Three of the participants, who had the best shots during photoshooting competition at the event were given photography kits.

The winner was given Canon 600D camera, first runner-up was given a speed light kit, while the second runner up was given an external hard drive.

The participants, in their various remarks appreciated the organiser of the event for exposing them to the act photography.