Senior Staff Association, of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) Gwagwalada, has enjoined workers in the country to acquire relevant skills to fast track socio-economic development.

Mr Telzing Nanloh-Maxwell, a Pharmacist and the Chairman of the association made the call on Friday during a two-day skills acquisition workshop on poultry and fish farming in Gwagwalada.

Nanloh-Maxwell, in an interview with newsmen emphasised the need for training and capacity building of workers to boost income generation and raise standards of living.

According to him, creativity and basic skills are important determinants and vital instruments for poverty reduction and sustainable development of the economy.

“We are organised this skills acquisition in order to help workers to reduce their dependence on one source of income.

“This is a way of engaging workers so that they can have some funds or means of meeting their needs.

“The essence of this skills acquisition is to provide an alternative means of income for workers.

“We don’t want a situation whereby our members wait for thirty days before they have something to feed on.

“We want a situation where, before the salary is paid, you have eggs or fish to sell.

“So what I am advising workers and union leaders across Nigeria to do is to make sure they find alternative means of income for their members.

“This is a way of releasing them from dependence on monthly salaries from their employer,” he said.

Nanloh-Maxwell noted that one of the approaches of the present administration towards achieving its agenda of economic recovery and growth plan is skills acquisition and job creation for the citizens.

“Honestly speaking, today, the government is facing financial challenges; so we need to find a way out, we need to start thinking outside the box.

“This is a way the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Senior Staff Association is bringing on board to help its members reduce their reliance on monthly salary.

“You don’t need to wait thirty days before you have something to do or feed your children, pay your childrens school fees and meet your household needs.

“At the end of this exercise, I know my members will start smiling,” Nanloh-Maxwell said.

Freda Effah, a participant, said that she would use the skill acquired to ensure self reliance and socio-economic development of the economy.

According to Effah, skills acquisition is germane to helping the next generation to navigate the highly saturated tecnology-driven market.