The Nation Newspaper

Tag: training

  • NYSC, BoI synergise on entrepreneurial training

    NYSC, BoI synergise on entrepreneurial training

    The Bank of Industry (Bol) has granted N2 billion as Graduate Entrepreneurial Fund (GEF) to support graduates in skill acquisition to curb perennial unemployment.

    The project is a partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to train corps members on entrepreneurial skills.

    Relying on the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), BoI Managing Director Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa said about 1.8 million young Nigerians enter the already-saturated labour market yearly. He noted that more than 50 per cent of the youth are unemployed.

    According to him,  graduates of tertiary institutions are badly hit by unemployment, constituting about 20 per cent of youth unemployment. Of the over 250,000 graduates that enrol for the NYSC yearly, more than 41 per cent do not get jobs after the NYSC programme, he added.

    Olaoluwa regretted that job creation has simply not kept pace with the increasing working-age population. He said the programme, which is a collaboration with the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) unit of NYSC, will select about 1,000 corps members to participate in the capacity building process through an online business idea competition.

    The three-day programme will cover topics such as generating the right business idea (Value Proposition), the intricacies of running a profitable business (Business Model), basic selling skills and financial record keeping. At the end of the training, the NYSC members will be able to develop their own bankable business plans, which will form the basis for loan consideration.

    On the loan terms, Olaoluwa said: “It will be a medium to long-term loans at single digit interest rates after concerted training from BoI consultant with the total amount available for lending under the programme as N2 billion. Each beneficiary of GEF can access a minimum loan of N500,000 and a maximum of N2 million for the procurement of machinery and equipment as well as working capital, at a single digit interest rate of nine per cent, with a loan tenor of four to five years inclusive of six months moratorium,” he added.

    On the unique features of the initiative, he said it does not require the conventional collateral usually demanded by banks, adding that specific charges over the equipment procured with the loan will be charged with on the NYSC discharge certificate

    NYSC Director-General Brigadier General Johnson Olawumi  lauded the initiative, calling for a policy to assist young entrepreneurs to sell their products. He said though the World Trade Organisation (WTO) recommended free trade, the government should insist on what is right for entrepreneurs to encourage indigenous SMEs to grow.

    He said NYSC would keep its part of the bargain by ensuring probity and integrity on the part of beneficiaries to encourage the sustainability of the programme.

    Olawunmi said the programme was timely as unemployment has become an issue, leading young people to crime. He argued that there is no better way to address it than moving away slightly from the focus of the NYSC.

    Founder, Growing Business Foundation, Mrs Ndidi Edozien, one of BoI consultants praised the partnership between Bol and NYSC,  urging beneficiaries to ensure they gave back to the society.

    He said: “Ensure that you create value and wealth in the local economy that you made what you are today. Credibility, integrity is the watchword for success in any endeavour.”

    She spoke of her mentoring in the last 16 years which has helped businesses grow, noting that the key success words remained sustainability and doggedness.

    CEO, African Community Bridge Foundation, Mrs. Onari Duke, also commended the synergy between the bank and NYSC, stating that it is a consistent and creative way of producing a mass of skilled young graduates. She regretted that a N40 billion grant for SMEs set aside by the Central Bank of Nigeria was not accessed nor utilised because operating banks didn’t get any qualified SME to grant the fund. She, however, advised that success of any business is not only about funding but requisite entrepreneurial skills and tenacity.

    Mrs Duke, former First Lady of Cross River State, called for what she termed a skewed policy that would favour  young entrepreneurs to ensure that whatever they produce is sold.

    Diversification of the economy can only work if the country prepares its youth to take up challenges after giving them appropriate training, she added.

  • Women, students get entrepreneurship training

    Women, students get entrepreneurship training

    E-Circle Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, has held an empowerment workshop for female students and women involved in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

    The training, tagged: Esthers in the market place, was held in collaboration with Sesema Public Relations, a leading communications agency, at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Newcastle Hotel in Lekki.

    The event was attended by over 100 women, students and entrepreneurs and it was aimed at providing them with expertise to successfully develop their businesses and career.

    The entrepreneurship session was facilitated by the Chief Executive Officer of Service Desk Limited, Mrs Kelechi Mba, a specialist in business development. Participants learnt strategies for exploring growth opportunities and dropping destructive mindsets. They were taught how they could benefit from career opportunities in global economy.

    Speaking on Transition of education, knowledge economy and female marketability matrix, Mrs Chioma George-Ekehon, chairperson of E-Circle Foundation, said: “Over the past three years, the project has aimed at inspiring personal responsibility and development among young women to drive productivity and change. The project was specifically designed to help equip young women with the information and skills necessary to help tackle the diverse challenges evident in their organisations, businesses and society. Our goal has been to effectively attract, develop and empower at 250,000 young women in five years.”

    Participants were also given first-hand opportunity for internship and job with Sesema Public Relations, modeling contracts and access to sponsorship for projects.

    Sesema Public Relations Managing Director, Mrs Tampiri Irimagha-Akemu, said: “There is no getting away from the fact that economic conditions remain challenging for the SMEs in Nigeria. We see young women as critical entities and key drivers for economic diversification and growth toward building the knowledge-based economy. We are happy to be partner in this project.”

    The project is an initiative of the E-Circle Foundation geared towards raising and empowering young women in the market place with skills and tools necessary to take on the diverse challenges evident in their organisations and businesses.

     

  • Club organises training for pupils

    No fewer than 100 pupils benefited from a vocational training organised by the University of Lagos (UNILAG) chapter of Junior Chamber International (JCI).

    The event, tagged: Impact 100 pupils, was part of the activities marking the JCI centenary celebration. Ten secondary schools, including International School Lagos, Regan Memorial Baptist Girls Secondary School (RGBSS), Federal Science and Technical College in Yaba, Eletu Odibo Senior High School, Methodist Girls High School and Yaba College of Technology Secondary School took part in the events.

    The participants were taught various vocational skills, including make-up, soap making, fashion designing, bead making, event decoration and planning, and web and graphics design Training.

    The Project Coordinator, Itunu Feyintola, said the student-group was using the programme to impact on young people.

    “We initially came up with a campaign tagged ‘With N500 we can equip a child with a skill’. UNILAG students sponsored the project and we trained some selected children with lucrative skills. We organise similar event to mark the club’s 100th anniversary,” she said.

    The JCI chapter President, Taiwo Oladele, said: “We are happy to be impacting lives with our sustained intervention in community development projects. We wish to do more, as we are set to visit Ilaje community in Yaba area to donate uniforms and writing materials to Hope Vision Nursery and Primary School in the community.”

    Participants expressed gratitude to students, describing the gesture as humanitarian. Oluwaseyifunmi Alobiloye, a pupil Methodist Girls High School, who learnt bead making, said: “I was taught how to make different types of beaded necklaces, bangles, bracelets and I found the class very interesting.”

    Blessing Okolo, a SSS 3 pupil of Eletu Odibo Senior High School, said she would venture into bead business after her graduation.

    Esther Christopher, an SSS 3 pupil of Federal Science and Technical College in Yaba, said she learnt about the event from her counsellor. “I was happy to enrol for the make-up and make-over class, because of my passion for fashion and beauty,” she said.

     

     

  • Don recommends regular training for teachers

    A professor of Guidance and Counselling at the Delta State University, Okobiah Otete, has called for training and retraining for teachers in public and private schools across the country.

    Otete spoke at the Great Teachers Conference, organised by Jes’s Lord International Services Limited with support from Master Energy Group, held at the Home Science School, Lagos.

    The conference tagged: “Promoting teacher’s status in the interest of quality education” was attended by over 100 public and private schools teachers and proprietors.

    According to him, the need for professional teachers who have up to date knowledge of the subjects taught in schools is germane for improved performance of learners.

    Otete blamed teachers for the poor performance of students in the May/June 2015 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), claiming that the candidates failed because many teachers could not teach their subjects well because they are not grounded in them.

    She noted that mathematics and English language have become dreaded subjects for students because of this reason. She noted that regular training of teachers would help to change their attitude to work and enhance the development of the teaching profession in Nigeria.

    “Regular training will impact on teachers’ attitude, the students and the teaching profession. They will learn how to handle difficult subjects and issues of discipline, as an alternative to flogging children. They will learn what teachers need to do to become effective on the job,” she said.

    In her welcome address, the Principal Consultant/Programme Director Jes’s Lord International Services Limited, Mrs. Celistina Atuegbe Eradagherse , said the conference was aimed at building the capacity of teachers and provides a platform for exchange of knowledge and ideas.

     

  • 341 graduate from free computer training

    341 graduate from free computer training

    The first set of students have graduated from the free computer training programme given to them by a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency 11, Hon. Jude Idimogu.

    Over 341 students received their certificates of completion. In all, three students emerged overall best. They are Odesola Oloruntooni, Alarape Oluwafunke and Udoh Abraham. Each of them received a cash award of N25,000.

    Idimogu said the first phase of training was targeted at the Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), adding that training would commence in Ejigbo very soon for the people living in the area.

    “This computer programme is just the first phase. Another phase will start in Ejigbo; in due course we will let you know. For those that have not benefited when that opportunity comes, please avail yourselves of the opportunity byattending,” he said, adding that there is opportunity for anyone who is willing to learn.

    Speaking during the opening of the constituency office/graduation ceremony of the poverty alleviation project for students in Lagos, Idimogu said the motive was to make students be abreast of information technology (IT), urging them as well as the elderly ones to avail themselves of the opportunity so as to be relevant on the international scene

    The project, he said, was the first among the various empowerment projects to be implemented, adding that it is in fulfilment of sincere commitment to bringing the dividends of democracy to the people in the constituency.

    He said: “Our goal is to be parliamentarians of distinction representing the people for an effective legislation and grassroots development while our mission is to serve the people of Oshodi/Isolo constituency 11 with almost dedication in the Lagos State House of Assembly for an improved welfare and infrastructure.” He stated that his goal was to see to the betterment of the people of Oshodi/Isolo Constituency 11

    “It is noteworthy that this computer training programme is a personal initiative to give back to the people of my constituency and to support the less-privileged that may not be able to fund training like this to be able to undertake such.

    “To the beneficiaries of this project, I have no doubt that a lot have been learnt and that the instructors/trainers have imparted to you enough knowledge during the training period. My word of advice for you is to build upon this knowledge and subsequently channel it to positive/productive use in your life endeavours.”

    He said the present generation cannot do without information technology as all our endeavours solely depend on it, stressing the urgent need to give it all we could.

    He said though there were financial constraints, he however said as more resources become available, it would be channelled towards the benefits of the people of the constituency.

    He therefore appealed for support, co-operation and understanding so as to succeed in this laudable assignment

    The Proprietor, JIDAB Computer ICT Centre, Olajide Olaitan said the free computer training was the first of its kind in the Isolo Constituency. He said it was a good beginning for the students to excel in their academic pursuit and to be relevant in today’s world of computer age

    He, however, stated that computer was a broad course that requires more to be learnt. He, therefore, urged the students to expand their computer knowledge through further trainings

    He solicited government’s support, noting that computer training was broad and as such needed government’s support for expansion through financing.

    The Chairman of the Occasion, Dele Ashiru said the computer programme would impact positively on the lives of the beneficiaries as well as the society.

    While commending the initiative, Ashiru said “the lawmaker has humbled himself so much to the extent that he is being loved by everybody in Oshodi/Isolo and beyond”. He added that he has taken steps to educate the youth, empower them and to make them leaders of the future.

  • PTD sends officials to Rome for training

    PTD sends officials to Rome for training

    As part of efforts aimed at exposing its members to the best global practices in haulage, logistics business, health and safety, the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), a branch of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG), said two batches of its members would head for Rome Business School, Italy, for a week training.

    The union said the training, with the theme: “Haulage, logistics, health and safety for petroleum tanker drivers”, is part of the transformation agenda pledged by the PTD National Chairman, Comrade Salimon Oladiti, for leaders of the union last year.

    A statement by PTD’ s National Public Relations Officer, Comrade Atanda Adebayo, said the first batch is presently in Rome for the one week course. The second batch, which will be led by the Deputy National Chairman, Comrade Lucky Osesua, had left the country for Rome, to return last Sunday.

    Adebayo said the trainings would also be undertaken at zonal and unit levels, while drivers on wheels are being trained locally in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC).

    He declared that continued training and retraining of officers and members, especially those on wheels, is pivotal and a continuous programme aimed at exposing the union members to modern technologies and techniques on new trucks and a change in attitude to driving.

  • Lagos urges training in administration, human resources

    Lagos urges training in administration, human resources

    The Director-General, Lagos State Office of Transformation, Creativity and Innovations (OTCI), Mr Toba Otusanya has stressed the need for organisations to train their officers, saying such training would afford administrative officers their rightful professional recognitions with emphasis on human management rather than performing general functions.

    Mr Otusanya spoke during a training programme for administration and human resource officers in the state ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs),  at the Digital Centre,Alausa, Ikeja. The training programme was organised by OTCI.

    He said the training was informed by the realisation that if adequate attention is given to human resources which is the greatest and most valuable asset of any organisation, it would be easier to address challenges facing other assets and areas of administration in organisations.

    He added that the training became pertinent in view of  the approval given by Governor Akinwumu Ambode, adding that the governor was keen in building a public service that is well-structured, better organised and with workers that have the right attitude,  skills and right motivation to perform their roles efficiently and effectively.

    Otusanya added administration and human resource are alternative management approach that are concerned with personnel, issues of structure, quality, culture, values, commitment and the matching of resources for future need.

    He said the adoption of human resources management practice would ensure that the right people are in the right job doing the right thing at the right time.

  • ITF seeks pact on training

    The Ondo/Ekiti Area Manager of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Mr Tayo Salami, is seeking partnership between AAUA and ITF of training.

    Salami, who assumed office in May, made the request when he visited the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, last week.

    He urged the VC to extend the same privilege the agency enjoyed for training of its workers during his tenure as Rector of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, RUGIPO to AAUA.

    “I am aware that ITF enjoyed a lot of support from you when you were the Rector of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, RUGIPO. ITF is not meant to train students only, but also the workforce. Since you have been our partner from RUGIPO, we want to appeal to you that anytime we call on you for participant drive, kindly, answer our call in this regard,” he said.

    Ajibefun thanked the ITF team for its commitment and promised to address the request.

    “We are going to extend the kind of relationship we had with your predecessors to your team. We are going to sustain the current areas of our collaboration and look at other areas where we can collaborate such that both of us will benefit,” he said.

    he Ondo/Ekiti Area Manager of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Mr Tayo Salami, is seeking partnership between AAUA and ITF of training.

    Salami, who assumed office in May, made the request when he visited the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, last week.

    He urged the VC to extend the same privilege the agency enjoyed for training of its workers during his tenure as Rector of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, RUGIPO to AAUA.

    “I am aware that ITF enjoyed a lot of support from you when you were the Rector of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, RUGIPO. ITF is not meant to train students only, but also the workforce. Since you have been our partner from RUGIPO, we want to appeal to you that anytime we call on you for participant drive, kindly, answer our call in this regard,” he said.

    Ajibefun thanked the ITF team for its commitment and promised to address the request.

    “We are going to extend the kind of relationship we had with your predecessors to your team. We are going to sustain the current areas of our collaboration and look at other areas where we can collaborate such that both of us will benefit,” he said.

     

  • ACCW: First Bank BC resumes training today

    ACCW: First Bank BC resumes training today

    First Bank Basketball Club will resume training today at the sports hall of the National Stadium, Lagos after the Sallah break to continue preparation for the qualifiers for the FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women.

    Ten players were in training last Thursday with two staying off due to personal reasons, while four are away on national duty with the D’Tigress at the Afrobasket for Women in Cameroun. The training, which was conducted by assistant coaches, Chris Acha and Taiye Adeniyi in the absence of head coach, Adewunmi Aderemi who is on national assignment with the D’Tigress in Cameroun.

    According to Acha and Adeniyi, the emphasis is to put the players in top shape for the qualifiers, which might likely take place in Togo.

    “What we intend to do is to ensure the players return to top form before the qualifiers begin. Since we began training in early September the players have regained fitness and are already imbibing some of the things we are teaching them and hopefully they will perform well at the qualifiers.  They have been on recess since the leagues ended and we believe that putting them in shape for the qualifiers is the right thing to do,” they added.

    “Some of the players would be rusty after resting for so long. So the training they are getting now will put them in good shape for the qualifiers. Coach Acha and I will take the team through training until the head coach returns from the Afrobasket Championship,” Adeniyi said.

  • Don’t fight over training funds, VC tells colleagues 

    The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Otuoke, (FUO), Professor Mobolaji Aluko, has advised vice chancellors, rectors and provosts of the nation’s institutions not to struggle with their staff over the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) training funds.

    Aluko said the human capacity training  funds are meant for lecturers and not for vice chancellors, rectors and provosts.

    Aluko gave the advice, while speaking with newsmen who where on an assessment tour of TETFund projects in the FUO, University of Benin, Auchi Polytechnic, Ambrose Ali University, College of Education, Agbo, Delta State University, Abraka and Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta State.

    His words: “We are the ones who made the decision for the CEOs of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education not to be part of funds meant to train lecturers in various institutions. I support the exclusion. I go to conference if I want.  Why should I again be fighting with other staff over the TETFund money for training when I can make a decision to go to other countries for training? I do not see that as an issue.”

    He said government higher institutions would have failed, if not for the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

    He said over 90 per cent projects in institutions are through the TETFund intervention funds.

    His words: “When TETFund allocates money to you, it is sure that you will get it. Without TETFund, many universities and other institutions would have failed. It means they may not function again.

    ”Universities have been pleading to the TETFund to allow us de-batch periodically so that one project will not delay another. Give us 85% at the very beginning. The fact that they give us 50% does not mean that we give the contractors the entire 50%. We still give them based on valuation.

    ”Another problem is that they wouldn’t give you money, if you have not retired the initial money. This causes trouble because once the TETFund has allocated money to you, it will always be yours, but that means that there will be a lot of money in the TETFund for various institutions without access.

    “TETFund has three special accounts. They are special projects account, normal intervention account and academic support account.  The TETFund should give us more flexibility so that projects will move on. We are major beneficiaries of the TETFund projects that are going on. We used TETFund money to upgrade many of the buildings in the universities.”