Uchechukwu Nnaike
Following the persistent outcry about the poor quality of Nigerian graduates, who are said to be unemployable, Poise Graduate Finishing School, a subsidiary of Poise Nigeria, has introduced an employability skills certification programme known as PSENSE.
The PSENSE test, which was designed in collaboration with Biddle Consulting, US, is aimed at solving the recruitment challenges by testing an individual’s soft skills, which the university degree might not guarantee, and which a one-on-one interview might not certify.
Speaking at the launch of the programme in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of Poise Nigeria, Mrs. Mavi Isibor, said though a university qualification is good, it does not always provide preparation for the graduates to excel in life. She said the programme would help undergraduates to prepare for the job market and also help job seekers to be certified so that they would have the soft skills and employability skills, which employers are looking for.
“It will assist the employer to get the right people into the organisation.”
She said the organisation would certify employability skills trainers across the country, who would train undergraduates before they take the test. Tallow for his she said would ensure uniform standards in all training centres.
“It will help the country to produce more employable graduates, who will not only be employable in Nigeria, but across the borders; they will be more marketable and more able to compete and be at par with graduates outside the country.”
Isibor said the company would partner the National Universities Commission (NUC) to infuse the programme into universities’ curriculum.
Head of Poise Graduate Finishing School, Ukinebo Dare, said the programme would among others, provide a credible employability skills certification for job seekers; corroborate the technical skills gotten from higher institutions thereby producing quality and independent graduates; provide a clear outline for developing work-ready graduates.
She said the test had been broken into six categories and three stages. “Stage one centres on the individual’s’ aptitude and ICT skill, as well as business communication skills. Stage two is meant to test their knowledge on professional attitude and organisational skills, while stage three focuses on personality projection, as well as business planning and management.”
Dare said the school is already running a three-month course to equip graduates with employability skills.
On his part, the Director, Product Division at Biddle, Mr. Michael Callen, described PSENSE as a testing package that includes hard skills testing and soft skills testing.
“We want to provide a testing vehicle that allows people who have knowledge skill abilities to show those abilities in job-related manner so that they will have an opportunity to rise to the top and make the best of opportunities that they have.”