The Greater Accra Regional Director of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Mathias Kofi Blay, has called on young people to complement their academic qualifications with vocational and technical skills to improve their employability and create sustainable livelihoods.

Mr. Blay made the appeal during a two-day workshop organized for the newly inaugurated Okaikwei South District Youth Committee, which has been tasked with identifying unemployment challenges among young people and proposing practical solutions to address them.

Addressing participants, the NYA Regional Director stressed that academic degrees alone may not be sufficient in today’s competitive job market and encouraged young people to acquire hands-on skills that can provide additional career and business opportunities.

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

According to him, practical skills often provide quicker access to employment opportunities and entrepreneurship than academic certificates alone.

He cited fields such as excavator operation, surveying and other technical trades as areas with strong job prospects.

Mr. Blay also advocated for the expansion of technical and engineering-related programmes in tertiary institutions to encourage more young people to pursue careers in technical and vocational sectors.

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

The workshop formed part of efforts to strengthen youth participation in local development and address unemployment challenges within the Okaikwei South District.

Beyond skills development, Mr. Blay urged young people to resist peer pressure and avoid the pursuit of quick wealth through unlawful or unsustainable means.

He observed that many young people are often influenced by peers who display lavish lifestyles without understanding the source of their wealth, leading some to make poor decisions in their quest for financial success.

The NYA official encouraged the youth to focus on legitimate income-generating ventures and entrepreneurship as pathways to long-term economic stability.

He highlighted opportunities in small-scale enterprises, including group-based businesses such as sachet water production and other community-driven ventures, which he said can provide sustainable income and employment.

Mr. Blay emphasized that building successful businesses through hard work, innovation and perseverance offers more reliable long-term benefits than shortcuts that may ultimately lead to legal or financial difficulties.