The Nation Newspaper

Tag: graduates

  • Ogun govt to employ 5,000 graduates into civil service

    The Ogun State government has said it will employ 5,000 candidates, comprising of new applicants looking for jobs and other sub-cadres seeking upgrading in the state civil service.

    The candidates sat for the first phase of this year’s Public Service Examination, conducted by the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON).

    The commissioner in the State Civil Service Commission, Alhaji Surajudeen Olusesi, spoke during the examination at the former Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ojere, Abeokuta, the state capital

    Olusesi said the examination was an entrance point for those seeking appointments into the civil service.

    The commissioner said applicants for the examination cut across various cadres, adding that the successful ones would occupy vacant positions earlier indicated by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state civil service.

    He hailed Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s administration for fulfilling the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign promise to provide jobs for qualified graduates.

    Olusesi noted that a good number of graduates had been engaged on yearly basis since the inception of the present administration in 2011.

    He said: “We must hail the present administration for fulfilling its campaign promises of providing jobs for the teeming youths in the state, despite the unfriendly economic situation in the country. We know that some states are owing their workers salary. Here in Ogun State, we are not owing; rather, we are employing more hands.”

    Also, the Civil Service Commission’s Permanent Secretary Mrs. Ajibola Chokor said the examination was meant to screen the candidates to get the best and most outstanding ones to fill vacancies in the civil service.

  • Korean Center graduates 33 Nigerians

    About 33 Nigerians have graduated from a 16-week Korean language training course by the Korean Cultural Centre in Nigeria.

    The six weeks programme had beginners, intermediate one and intermediate three classes for students.

    One of the Korean Language teachers Ms. Jee Meeyoun, at the graduation in Abuja, challenged the students to strive to learn and improve their Korean language skills.

    She noted that the centre would continue to support students and other Nigerians who may be interested in studying in various fields of learning.

    She also said the centre would continue to make available more books at the centre’s Library for its students.

    Students were presented with certificates and other gifts at the event.

    Also, the centre gave 20 students commendation awards while four students who distinguished themselves were given awards of excellence.

    Among the students awarded for excellence was Miss Aisha Nasir. She also took first position in this year’s Korean Government Undergraduate Scholarship (KGSP) application interview for Nigeria which was organised by the centre.

    “She is now waiting for the final confirmation of her scholarship application by the Korean Government to undergo a full scholarship undergraduate course in the Republic of Korea,” a statement by the centre said.

    The statement added: “The Korean Cultural Centre regularly holds language courses during the year. The courses are tuition-free and students are trained in writing, listening and speaking. There is usually a speaking contest for students during the year and the overall winner of that competition stands a good chance of an all-expenses paid trip to Korea.”

    Some Nigerians are currently studying on scholarship in Korea through the Korean Government Scholarship Programme (KGSP) for both undergraduate and graduate courses while others have already completed their courses.

  • BSN Academy graduates pioneer 36

    The Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) Academy has graduated its 36 pioneer students.

    Its National President, Dr Aaron Nuhu, described the event as historical.

    ‘’It is wonderful. It is the first of its kind in the history of BSN,’’ he said.

    He advised the graduands to be good ambassadors of the society.

    BSN Consult Chairman, Pastor Victor Oluwadamilare, said during the 11-month programme, the graduands were exposed to leadership skills to enable them take up higher responsibilities in future.

    BSN’s General Secretary, Dr Dare Ajiboye, said the aim of the academy is to produce quality talents who would take up positions of higher responsibilities.

    He thanked the academy’s faculty which included Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), Dr Christopher Kolade, Abiola Popoola and former BSN’s GS, Dr Fred Odutola.

    Popoola praised the graduands for being diligent in their studies.

    ‘’They were ever willing to learn and hungry for knowledge,’’ he said, adding that he was sure they would practice what they had learnt.

    Odutola said: “You are first among equals,’’ charging them to continue to learn and not remain static.

  • Oduduwa retains First Class graduates

    Oduduwa retains First Class graduates

    Twenty-seven students of Oduduwa University at Ipetumodu (OUI) in Osun State, who graduated with First-Class Division, have been offered automatic jobs by management of the institution.

    The Vice Chancellor, Prof Chibuzo Nnate Nwoke, addressed reporters at the school ahead of the university’s fifth convocation in which 529 first degree students will graduate.

    The vice chancellor said the First Class graduates would be absorbed to work with the university, if they are willing to stay.

    He said OUI graduates were well trained to face the world and be successful in life.

    Nwoke added that 278 students graduated with Second Class Upper Division, while 216 made Second Class Lower Division and eight made Third Class.

    The vice chancellor said the Executive Secretary of the Muslim Ummah of Southwest (MUSWEN), Prof Dawud Noibi and the Deputy President-General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) would be honoured with doctoral degrees.

    He added that OUI graduates are morally upright as the institution has zero tolerance for cultism, hooliganism and other vices.

    According to him, OUI is destined for greatness.

    Nwoke said: “Our focus on building a world-class university, whose brand is excellent in the development of quality human capital, is steady and unwavering. In fact, we have begun consolidating to claim our destined supreme excellence in tertiary education in Nigeria.

    “We are committed to contributing to the creation of a knowledge economy in Nigeria by methodically nurturing creative individuals and strategic thinkers whose intellectual capacities will bring about the revolutionary pace in scientific, technological, entrepreneurial and managerial advancement for human survival and progress.”

  • 176,160 graduates get N-Power jobs

    176,160 graduates get N-Power jobs

    •Buhari: culture of impunity receding

    No fewer than 176,160 graduate beneficiaries have so far been deployed under the N-Power programme of Social Investment Programmes (SIPs), the Federal Government has said

    This is part of issues addressed in a book, entitled: ‘‘Making Steady, Sustainable Progress for Nigeria’s Peace and Prosperity: A Mid-Term Report Card on the Buhari Administration’’.

    The book is authored by the Presidential Media Team. It will be presented by All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday. Eminent journalist and APC chieftain Prince Tony Momoh will be the reviewer.

    Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina; Senior Special Assistant to the President on  Media and Publicity Garba Shehu  and Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, (Office of the Vice President) Laolu Akande jointly edited the book.

    It added that President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that the culture of impunity inherited at the inception of his government, two years ago, is receding.

    “Corruption, insecurity and the parlous economy were the challenges inherited at inception.

    ‘‘They have been addressed and are still being addressed boldly and honestly.

    “The task of revamping the economy remains work-in-progress,’’ President Buhari wrote in the foreword of the 348-book, which is a compendium of notable achievements of his administration since May 29, 2015.

    According to the book, the N-Power programme, which has reached 200,000 graduate beneficiaries from all 36 states, including the FCT, has deployed 176,160 beneficiaries.

    The book also reveals that Nigeria realised N212.73 billion from agricultural product exports at the end of the fourth quarter of 2016.

    It stated that the products, which contributed most to agricultural product exports in the fourth quarter, were sesame seeds with N6.46 billion, frozen shrimps and prawns with N4.4 billion.

    According to the report, flour and meals of soya beans contribute N2.59 billion; cashew nuts in shell, N0.95 billion and crude palm kernel with N0.62 billion.

    It noted that 46 per cent of the total 200,000 beneficiaries selected were female to ensure gender balance while 1,126 applicants with disabilities emerged successful.

    It also added that a centralised Project Management Unit was being set up to carry out monitoring and evaluation of the programme across the six geopolitical zones.

    “In addition to this, an MoU has been reached with the National Orientation Agency to also carry out monitoring and evaluation in all 36 states including the FCT.”

    The N-Power programme is aimed at addressing the challenge of youth unemployment by providing a structure for large scale and relevant work skills acquisition and development.

    Beneficiaries are expected to channel skills acquired to fixing inadequate public services and stimulating the larger economy.

    The N-Power programme includes the N-Power Volunteer Corps which targets 500,000 graduates, the N-Power Knowledge which targets 25,000 non-graduates and the N-Power Build which targets 75,000 non-graduates.

    “The non-graduate component to kick-off once procurement is completed; the next batch of 300,000 beneficiaries are to be selected soon.”

    More programmes under the SIPs are the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme aimed at increasing enrolment and completion rate at the primary school level.

    Others are the Conditional Cash Transfer aimed at providing targeted money transfers to poor and vulnerable households and the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme aimed at providing financial service access to traders.

    Buhari wrote the foreword of the 348-page book, which contains milestones of all the Federal ministries and some select department and agencies of government, in the last two years.

    The book also detailed how the Buhari’s administration is blocking corruption loopholes in the nation’s public institutions.

    In an excerpt of the 348-page publication, the team notes that beyond arrest and prosecution of suspects, the Buhari government is strengthening public institutions for accountability and transparency.

    The book explores measures being instituted by anti-graft agencies, especially the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), in this regard since the last two years. These include conduct of System Study and Review in ministries, departments and agencies, and Corruption Risk Assessment (CRA) in various sectors of the nation’s economy.

    t says the education, health, water and aviation sectors as well as e-governance platforms, including the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS), have benefited from the ICPC’s CRA exercise.

    The exercise, it adds, has led to the identification of weaknesses in the systems that create opportunities for corruption.

  • Graduates ‘lack job skills’

    THe Manging Director, RUBIX Management, Ope Onaboye, says tertiary institutions aren’t preparing their graduates for jobs.

    He noted that finding qualified applicants was difficult, as applicants were performing below employers’expectations.

    Speaking with The Nation, Onaboye said many fresh graduates were not ready for their first  jobs, faulting their writing proficiency, and public speaking ability.

    He  expressed   concern over the low employability of graduates, adding that with the challenging employment environment, only a fraction of fresh graduates was employable. Onaboye blamed  the situation on lack of awareness of their low employability quotient.

    Onaboye stressed the need to improve engagement between universities and employers to ensure that undergraduates were taught skills that reflect modern technologies.

    He urged on schools and colleges to shift their focus from not just good grades to the broader issue of employability. He added that while there were many  job vacancies, the biggest barrier to filling them was matching skills with vacancies.

    According to him, increase in corporate training is a good indicator of bullish economic movement, adding that companies have reduced training spending reflecting the negative impact of the economic performance.

    With emerging challenges, he noted that Nigeria needs a rethink on how training systems can deliver the skills needed by the labour market.

    He said the rise of entrepreneurship among young people and the high proportion of them making a success of themselves would transform the world of business ownership.

  • Nigerdock graduates 49

    Nigerdock graduates 49

    To promote local content and develop human capacity, the Nigerdock has graduated 49 vocational trainees from its Training and Development Academy.

    The trainees, which comprised 47 men and two women are secondary school graduates. They began on-the-job training  in May 2016. Twenth-four of them acquired skills in welding with (international: 6G and 6GR certifications and Nigerdock Certification of Completion-NDCC). Nineteen of them were trained in fitting and six were trained in machining.

    At the graduation, which held at the Nigerdock facility on Snake Island, Integrated Free Zone (SIIFZ), the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Executive Secretary, Simbi Wabote, who was represented by Manager, Capacity Development Division, Iwhiwhu Maurice Kelly, appreciated Nigerdock, Samsung Heavy Industries and Total for further deepening local content and improving Nigeria’s human capacity development through its world class training academy.

    “We commend Nigerdock, Samsung Heavy Industries Limited and Total Upstream Nigeria Limited because we are confident that these vocational trainees have been trained in various skills that empower them to provide the necessary manpower and services for the sector and they can compete with their counterparts in other parts of the world,” he noted.

    Group Corporate Affairs Director, Jagal, Mrs. Joy Okebalama, reaffirmed Nigerdock’s commitment to championing local content development. She lauded Samsung Heavy Industries Nigeria Limited, Total and NCDMB for supporting the programme.

  • Sahara Group hosts Harvard graduates

    Egbin Power Plc, an affiliate of Sahara Group, has flagged off the tour of the power operations of Sahara Group, an indigenous energy conglomerate, by 20 Harvard Kennedy School graduates.

    Led by Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, the graduates from the 2017 Masters in Public Policy Class learned about how continuing investments in technology, human capital, overhauls and upgrades were driving the transformation of the power plant, which is responsible for 25 per cent of power generated in Nigeria.

    An elated Arohi Sharma, the team’s Student Government President 2016-2017 said: “It is quite exciting and amazing to see the remarkable work that is going on at the power plant. This is my first time in a facility like this and I am personally looking forward to the emergence of a vibrant power sector in Africa with institutions like Egbin Power playing important roles in this regard.”

    Following the nation’s privatisation exercise, Sahara, through its power division, Sahara Power Group and sundry affiliations, acquired the 1320MW installed capacity Egbin Power Plant, Ikeja Electric Plc and generation assets at First Independent Power Limited in Rivers State. Sahara Power Group currently operates power generation facilities with a total of approximately 1,750MW of available capacity and working towards deploying a minimum of 5,000MW of electricity generation over the next five years.

  • Fadama lll trains 300 unemployed graduates in Ondo

    The Fadama lll Additional Financing Project has trained no fewer than 300 unemployed graduates in Ondo State to acquire vocational skills in agricultural enterprises.

    Mr Olusiji Olatunji, the state Project Coordinator, disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the programme at the Federal University of Technology (FUTA) in Akure on Monday.

    He said the exercise would run for two weeks in three centres across the state.

    Olatunji said that the higher institutions selected for the programme were FUTA, Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, and Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko.

    The coordinator said that the training programme was initiated by the Federal Government through the Fadama Graduate Unemployed Youth Support (Fadama GUYS) programme.

    “The training aims to empower unemployed young graduates in Nigeria by making them self-reliant and employers of labour.

    “Leaving these youths unattended to will give them opportunity to dissipate their energy in all forms of menace and social vices like drug trafficking, robbery, internet fraud and cultism, “he said.

    He said that government’s efforts to stem the spate of unemployment among the youths would go a long way in ameliorating the tense situation in the labour market.

    “Each beneficiary will be trained; taught to write a business plan on choice enterprise and given a starter pack of about N1 million as grant,” he said.

    Mr Akin Olotu, Senior Special Adviser on Agriculture in Ondo State said the state government was committed to the transformation of the agriculture sector.

    Olotu said Governor Rotimi Akeredolu was committed to making agriculture more attractive to the teeming youths in the state.

    “We are reviving the agriculture sector in the state through the engagement and participation of youths to take over from aged persons by making it attractive.

    “We are not thinking of production alone but rather thinking of the entire value chain, processor, marketing and agro entrepreneurship,” he said.

    According to him, if agriculture is made attractive, it will create jobs and produce raw materials for the agro-industry.

    Two beneficiaries, Mr Kolawole Samuel and Miss Busayo Adeyeye, said the training would help them to plan for their future and be self-employed

     

  • Edo to unveil technical education for graduates

    Opportunities for skill acquisition would soon to be open to graduates in Edo as the State government promised, on Wednesday, to launch platforms on technical education for graduates to become independent employers of labour.

    This was disclosed by the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, at the Edo State Government House in Benin City during an interactive session with the management team of Seven Up Bottling Company Nigeria Plc., led by Victor Oladele, the General Manager of Seven  Up Bottling Company Nigeria Plc.,  Benin zone, who expressed interest in joining to make Edo state an economic hub.

    The management team also applauded the leadership style of the present administration, especially its policies aimed at encouraging investors in the state.

    The governor, meanwhile, explained that his administration was determined to create an enabling environment for investors through infrastructural development such as roads to enhance free flow of vehicular movement, and security of lives and property to attract investors to the state.