Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan
The First Technical University, Ibadan has graduated 100 youths trained on system security, close circuit television installation, film production, fashion designing, agro-allied, paint making and other entrepreneurial skills.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ayobami Salami, while speaking at the certificate presentation ceremony, said the training was specially designed to reduce the scourge of unemployment among the youths in the state and its associated socio-economic consequences.
He also reiterated the institution’s commitment to providing sustainable alternatives to the crisis of unemployment in the country through trainings in various marketable skills for the youth, adding that the university is adequately equipped to offer evidence-based solutions to the problem of joblessness in the country.
“We hold the conviction that by working assiduously to empower our young people, we would not only deal a huge blow on poverty and unemployment in the country, but also bridge the yawning skills gap that consistently makes it impossible for the nation to join the league of truly productive economies globally.
“The programme represents one way by which the First Technical University hopes to contribute to the socio-economic development process of the country, by building an entrepreneurially literate society and strengthening the industrial base of Nigeria and Oyo State in particular.
“It was designed to develop the capacity of participants in industry-relevant technical, vocational and entrepreneurial skills, necessary to start and effectively manage need-based micro and small size enterprises.This is with the view of reducing the scourge of youth unemployment in the state and its associated socio-economic consequences.
”For us at Tech-U, this ceremony demonstrates our commitment to providing sustainable alternatives to the crisis of unemployment in our country. In many ways, the rising rate of unemployment in our country today, which is currently put at 23.1 per cent, should task genuinely concerned observers to get to work and think of innovative ways out of the very worrisome situation. Our university is adequately equipped to offer evidence-based solutions in this regard.”
Salami, who was accompanied by the partner of the programme, the state Commissioner for Budget and Finance, Mr. Bimbo Adekanmbi and principal officers of the institution, said the beneficiaries were drawn from Ona Ara Local Government Area, the constituency of the commissioner.
He called on other spirited public and private officials to borrow a leaf from Adekanmbi and support the programme, which represents one way by which the institution hopes to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country.
Salami said doing so would ensure drastic building of entrepreneurially literate society and strengthen the industrial base of the state and Nigeria in general.
In his remarks, Adekanmbi said he was approached by the institution to support industry-relevant technical, vocational and entrepreneurial skills, necessary to start and effectively manage need-based micro and small size enterprises.
The commissioner, who witnessed the practical demonstration of the trainings acquired by the beneficiaries, donated an undisclosed amount of money, which he described as seed money for the graduates to use as take-off grants.
