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Tag: skill

  • Apapa-Iganmu graduates skill acquisition trainees

    Apapa-Iganmu graduates skill acquisition trainees

    • Empowers residents

    Participants at an Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) organised skill acquisition training have graduated. The council also empowered some residents.

    The Chairman, Alhaja Funmilayo Akande-Mohammed, said she was proud to support initiatives that foster economic growth, skill development, and youth empowerment.

    She said the vocational training aimed to equip students with industry-relevant skills, and enhance their employability and entrepreneurial capabilities.

    She said: “I am honoured to stand before you today to celebrate a significant milestone in the lives of these talented individuals. Today, we gather to empower and graduate our vocational students, who have worked tirelessly to acquire skills that will shape their future.

    “To our graduating students, I offer my heartfelt congratulations. Your dedication and perseverance have earned you this achievement. As you embark on your journey, remember that skill development is a life-long process. Stay curious, stay innovative, and stay committed to excellence. We present to you vocational materials to support your startups and entrepreneurial endeavours. These tools will aid you in transforming your skills into tangible products and services, contributing to our local economy.

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    “I urge you to remain focused, resilient, and determined. You are the future leaders and change-makers of our community. Your success is our success, and we are committed to supporting your growth. Thank you to our partners, instructors, and parents for your unwavering support. Together, we can build a brighter future for our youths. Congratulations once again, graduates! May your skills and talents bring prosperity to our community.”

    The council used the platform to empower some residents.

    “Ladies and gentlemen, I know you are also seeing some equipment such as refrigerators, sewing machines, grinding machines, dryers, etc, in large quantities in this hall, don’t wander for long, it is because I equally want to use this occasion to empower our people. You will all agree with me that economic empowerment of the masses is germane to my administration. Hence, the periodic distribution of these items, to alleviate suffering and make life worth living for the citizens.

    “I advise beneficiaries of these largesse,to make the best use of the opportunity. Together we shall take Apapa Iganmu LCDA to the next level insha Allah!,” she said.

  • ‘Prioritise  knowledge, skill acquisition’

    ‘Prioritise  knowledge, skill acquisition’

    Chairman of  Topfaith University, a privately-owned university in Mkpatak, Akwa Ibom State, Dr Emmanuel Abraham has stressed the need for students to prioritise knowledge and skill acquisitio. He said it was imperative to unlearn and relearn towards boosting personal and national development.

    Delivering a speech entitled:  “21st Century Education Skills and Career Choices,” at the Transition to University Education Summit (TTUES 2024), he emphasised the significance of creativity, collaboration and communication skills in today’s educational ecosystem.

    TopFaith University, in partnership with Standard Mandate International (SMI) and Thomas Abraham Foundation, hosted the summit to expose final year SS3 students to necessary tools and knowledge for a seamless transition to university life. It held last week at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Akoka, Lagos.

    He said  the summit was a platform to guide  graduating students towards the right universities and empower them to build successful careers.

    The one-day summit with the theme: “Getting it Right,” was aimed at  preparing , and motivating students on various aspects of university education, including admission procedures, mental and psychological preparation for challenges, exposure to the university learning system, and career counseling.

    Proffering solutions to challenges within the Nigerian education system, Abraham called for a shift in mindset while valuing and contributing to the existing educational infrastructure.

    He called for consistent and sustainable policies from the Ministry of Education to boost the standard of education  nationwide.

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    Managing Consultant of Standard Mandate International (SMI), Dr Nelson Ayodele stressed the significance of proper and  effective preparation and goal-setting towards moving to university education.

    According to him, building a positive mindset has a significant impact on the mental and physical well-being of students, noting that  those with a positive mindset are more likely to succeed academically and enjoy the learning process.

    Ayodele, who listed common transition problems such as psychological hurdles, self-doubt, insecurity, and adjusting to new social environments, enjoined the  students to acquire essential skills such as self-regulated learning, personal development, social and emotional learning, and financial management to tackle the problems effectively.

  • Anambra begins assessment of skill centres

    Anambra State government has begun assessment of skill acquisition centres in the 21 local governments.

    The Special Adviser to Governor Willie Obiano on Youth Empowerment and Mobilisation, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka yesterday that the assessment was to get first-hand information about the facilities and equip them for training of youths.

    He said the exercise was to empower youths to be self-reliant.

    The aide said the Obiano administration was committed to improving lives of the citizenry, especially youths.

    He urged youths to acquire skills to boost their income.

    Ibezim enjoined them to shun vices and acts that could mar their future.

    He advised residents to protect government’s facilities.

     

  • Philanthropist to build skill centre

    A philanthropist in Imo State, Mr. Joshua Onyemuche, has promised to build a skill acquisition centre at Okigwe Prison.

    He spoke at the opening of a football tournament he organised for inmates.

    Onyemuche said he hired three lawyers to represent inmates who lack means to engage lawyers.

    He lamented that inmates, accused of minor offences, were remanded in prison and abandoned without representation by lawyers.

    The philanthropist promised to donate a vehicle, sewing machines, drugs and art and drawing materials to alleviate their problems.

    His words: “I am touched by this visit. I will ensure I visit this prison regularly to know your problems.”

    Onyemuche received a list of challenges confronting the prison from the Deputy Controller, Mr. Valentine Nwosu, and assured him of assistance.

  • Abia Varsity gets skill acquisition centre

    Vice Chancellor of Abia State University (ABSU) Prof Uche Ikonne, has commissioned the university’s Entrepreneurial Centre as part of management’s efforts to ensure that every graduate of the institution acquires some skills.

    Speaking at the university campus Uturu, Ikonne said the initiative which is under the auspices of the Business Resource Centre, is to make the graduates self reliant.

    Ikonne said the programme would ensure that graduates of universities are equipped with requisite skills that would make them ideal in the 21st century competitive world.

    He explained the initiative conformed with the Abia State’s Education for employment initiative, as well as the National Universities Commission (NUC) directive that entrepreneurial studies be made a compulsory course for all undergraduates nationwide.

    He said the programme was predicated on the philosophy of one student, two skills in line with the university’s goal of equipping its students with vocational and entrepreneurial skills.

    Ikonne said: “When you acquire these skills, you will develop the passion, expertise and competence to excel in different vocations, after which you will become job creators and productive members of society. This will automatically make your lives and that of others better and realise your dreams for a better tomorrow.”

    Earlier in his welcome address, the university’s Director, Business Resource Centre, Sam Agu, said for effective implementation of the programme, the university had engaged four local and one foreign resource partners that would drive the vocational aspect of the programme.

    He added that the centre had designed a form outline from which students would choose and register courses of their choice.

  • Why skill gaps are widening, by ITF chief

    Why skill gaps are widening, by ITF chief

    Industrial Training  Fund (ITF) has blamed existing skill gaps in the country  on the absence of synergy between industries and educational institutions.  This it said,  has also led to the absence of harmonised database.

    Its  Director-General, Joseph Ari who spoke at the 49th Human Resource Development Seminar in Abuja, lamented that economic recession has expectedly led to the closure of many businesses, therefore worsening the already bad unemployment situation in the country.

    He said: “The economy is also characterised by under-employment owing to the lack of requisite skills by Nigerians to take up available jobs.

    “The gap in skills is attributed to the absence of synergy between industries and educational institutions leading to the absence of a harmonised database on Labour Market Information (LMI).

    “Consequently vacancies required in skills by enterprises, available skills in the economy cannot be accessed by employers, job seekers and skills suppliers. This is why LMI is an imperative; it has also become a veritable tool for linking skills demand and supply.”

  • Institute, club sign pact on skill acquisition

    The Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Association of Lions Club, District 404B1, Nigeria, on skill acquisition and training of youth and women in the district.

    The institute will educate them capital needed for the project. The Bank of Industry (BOI) will also fund participants’ businesses and technology plans.

    The agreement was reached in Abeokuta during the investiture of Waheed Kadiri as the District Governor of Lions 404B1.

    Senator Adegbenga Kaka, who chaired the event, commended the institution and the club for the initiative, which he noted will go a long way in diversifying the economy.

  • ‘Why money management skill is crucial’

    Renowned author and publisher of the daily devotional, Our Daily Manna (ODM) Bishop (Dr.) Chris Kwakpovwe, has called on  the Federal Government to find ways of creating incentives to stimulate the informal sector so as to reduce the hardship that Nigerians are exposed to in the face of a tottering economy.

    Speaking last Sunday at a Roundtable with the theme: ‘Financial Intelligence: Basic Money Management Skills to Create Wealth’ he  said the informal sector should be positioned as the engine of economic growth in the face of dwindling oil earnings and low capacity utilisation by the manufacturing sector; factors that have literally crippled the economy.

    Kwakpovwe said there was urgent need for government to address the twin issues of basic infrastructure such as electricity and funding for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) so as to encourage more Nigerians to embark on self-employment rather than continue to search for non-existent jobs in an economy where the otherwise vibrant sector such as banking, is already throwing thousands of Nigerians into the streets.

    The bishop urged Nigerians to rise to the challenge of contemporary economic realities and acquire basic financial intelligence and management skills that would enable them set up and manage small businesses successfully, which he insists, holds the key to earning a decent living in the face of a shrinking economy.

  • ‘Skill, expertise vital to grassroots’ service delivery’

    The Director General, Lagos State Public Service Staff Development Centre (PSSDC), Mrs Olubunmi Fabanmwo, has identified quality skill and expertise as critical to the discharge of people-oriented services at the third tier of government.

    She spoke at the end of a capacity building programme organised for Council Managers (CM) and Treasurers of the 20 local government areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) at the centre.

    She said as management officers, the CMs and Treasurers represent the critical interface between the government and the people at the grassroots, adding that the discharge of quality policies at such level would be determined by the amount of skill and expertise available to them in the discharge of their responsibilities.

    Mrs Fabanmwo said the two modules, Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development and Public Financial Management Law would enrich the performance of the council administrators.

    She, therefore, charged all the council administrators to commit to leading the required change in their various local governments and LCDAs, adding that this was imperative if the third tier of government would be fully integrated into the vision and development plan of the state government.

    The training was among a series of capacity building programmes put together to empower local government administrators to contribute effectively to sustainable development at the grassroots.

    Participants said the training has further gone to underscore the commitment of the government to effective governance at the grassroots, adding that the effort would create the required symbiotic interface between the civil service and the local governments in the state.

    They appreciated the drive of government to harmonise public service activities throughout the state in line with the roles and specific contributions of all sectors to development and urged that the development planning adopted by the state be allowed to trickle down to the local governments and LCDAs, so as to provide uniform direction at the two critical levels of governance.

    They admitted that the Knowledge Management Workshop has empowered them with skills and techniques required to effectively manage the knowledge and skills acquired by local government staff with a view to maximising capacity building investment, while the Financial Management Law Workshop has provided new vista into Public Service financial authorities and the application of the International Public.

  • ‘Youths need skill centres’

    Youths in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) under the auspices of Concerned AMAC Youths have called on the council chairman, Hon. Micah Jiba to set up skill acquisition centres for them.

    Coordinator of the Youth body, Comrade Matthew Yerimah, said that they were promised in the past that the leadership of the council was going to set up skills acquisition centre to empower the youth, but they are yet to see the actualisation of the prolonged promise.

    According to Yerimah, it is believed that the youth are the live wire of any society, but, it is obvious that most leaders do not plan to invest in the lives of the youth in the society, thereby neglecting them to be use for negative vices.

    “The youth are been neglected by the government of the day, that is why they are left with no other choice than to commit crimes. We do not want that to happen in AMAC, that is why we are calling on the council boss, Hon. Micah Jiba to plan for the youth before his tenure expires.

    “We know that in less than a year and six months from now, the present council administration led by Hon. Micah Jiba would round off, but, we do not want it to end without another government doing something reasonable for the youth of this council.

    “We are tired of been used and dump by politicians, after making unfulfilled promises. We believe that the present council boss is a good man and we are appealing that he should use his office to setup skills acquisition centre in one of the satellite towns or in the city centre,” he said.

    Secretary of the youth body, Comrade Shekwo Musa, also said that most of the youth in the council are jobless because of lack of employment, that when the skills acquisition centre is built, it would go a long way in empowering youth in the council.