Youths in Enugu State have been urged to take advantage of Federal Government employment opportunities instead of staying away because of the belief that such positions are reserved for people with political connections.
The call came from the Federal Character Commission Commissioner representing Enugu State, Peter Eze, who said qualified Nigerians should not allow the fear of political patronage to prevent them from competing for available opportunities.
Eze spoke on Thursday at the Peter Eze Youth Connect workshop held at the International Conference Centre in Enugu.
The workshop, themed “Beyond Quotas: Unlocking Opportunities for Enugu Youths Through the Federal Character Commission,” was aimed at helping young people understand how they can access employment and other opportunities within the Federal Government system.
According to the commissioner, one of the major obstacles facing qualified young Nigerians is the widespread belief that government jobs are already allocated before they are publicly advertised.
He described such beliefs as misinformation that could cause applicants to eliminate themselves from consideration even before submitting an application.
Eze encouraged the youths to put themselves forward whenever legitimate vacancies are announced, stressing that an opportunity cannot be secured by someone who never applies.
Using a football analogy, he said no player could win a match without stepping onto the pitch, noting that the same principle applies to employment opportunities.
The commissioner also warned young people against paying middlemen who claim they can secure Federal Government jobs for them.
“You do not need to buy a job; you need to prepare yourself,” Eze said, urging applicants to rely on legitimate recruitment processes rather than individuals demanding money in exchange for employment.
He explained that the Federal Character Commission has a constitutional responsibility to promote equitable representation in Federal Government institutions, adding that more than 700 ministries, departments, agencies, commissions and other establishments provide employment and related opportunities.
Beyond employment, Eze said the youth-focused initiative would also provide information about grants, scholarships, fellowships, training programmes and other opportunities available to young Nigerians.
He disclosed that five participants at the programme would be selected for full scholarships to study abroad.
The commissioner said the initiative would not end with the workshop, as plans were underway to establish a network through which young people could continue to receive and share information about genuine opportunities.
Eze therefore urged Enugu youths to reject the notion that political sponsorship was a requirement for success in the Federal Government system.
His message was simple: young Nigerians should obtain the right information, prepare themselves, follow the prescribed process and compete for opportunities when they become available.
“Let nobody make you believe that you need a godfather before you can succeed,” he said.
“Get the information. Follow the process. Prepare yourself. Apply. Compete. And pursue your opportunity.”
