By Uche Bibilari
The Vice-Chancellor, University of Abuja, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi, says skill acquisition programme remains a major key, central to national development.
Fawehinmi, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Rosemary Udeozo, said this at the closing ceremony of UniAbuja (now Yakubu Gowon University) Community Skill Acquisition Initiative on Thursday.
The Community Skill Acquisition Initiative was organised by the university’s Centre for Student Empowerment and Mentoring (CSEM).
According to him, the greatness of many developed nations can be attributed to deliberate investment in practical skills acquisition.
He described the initiative as a critical driver of national development and youth empowerment.
The vice-chancellor said that the centre was established to help students to be self employed by acquiring a skill while still in school.
He also said that with the rate of unemployment affecting the nation today, the centre was created to assist students find their stand in the society.
“The world of today belongs to those who have skills they can put into practice for positive living.
“Nigeria lays emphasis on youth empowerment, especially in the area of skill acquisition to curb the problem of unemployment.
“Once they acquire these skills, it will make them self reliant and economically independent. They will create wealth for themselves, their family, the society and Nigeria at large,” he said.
Fawehinmi said that the skill acquisition centre operated an inclusive and continuous model, where trainees remain connected to the centre even after completing their programmes.
He said that graduates who excelled in specific skills were invited to mentor new intakes, adding that the university community alone can sustain and break even with the quality of skills being developed internally.
Speaking on the link between skill acquisition and entrepreneurship, the vice-chancellor said that acquiring a skill was only the first step.
According to him, true wealth creation comes from applying those skills to produce goods and services.
“When you acquire a particular skill, you become an expert.
“But if you lie down with your skills, you will not create wealth. Entrepreneurship is putting the skills you acquired into practice.
“By the time you open your fashion designing centre, you will not wait for salary, your money comes in every day. It makes you financially independent and turns you into an employer,” he said.
He encouraged graduates to explore opportunities across sectors, including fashion, production, entertainment and other service-oriented ventures, being optimistic that some would grow to host major events and enterprises in the future.
He advised them to be sincere, trustworthy, dependable and reliable in their dealings, noting that credibility is key to sustainable success.
“As you collect your certificate today, may it enhance your lives. May it make you excel in everything you put your hands to.”
Fawehinmi congratulated the graduands and commended their trainers for their dedication and sacrifice, reaffirming his commitment to supporting innovative ideas from alumni of the programme.
Earlier, the Director of the Centre, Prof. Adeniran Lateef, said that the centre, which was established two years ago, had graduated over 2,000 students in various skills.
He said that some of the skills included data analysis, software development, UI/UX design, driving, cosmetology, fashion designing, baking, graphic design and photography.
Lateef said that the centre had also trained people from the host community as a way of giving back to the society.
He said that the vice-chancellor had promised to be of help to the community in terms of empowerment.
“The centre trained over 2,000 students of UniAbuja last year in various skills acquisition, and in this current session we are training about 7,000 students in about 20 skills.
“But for the community, we outlined just five skills which include: bag making, baking, cosmetology among others to train them on.
“Today we are graduating 58 people in different skills, in the just concluded three weeks training,” he said.
He called on other students to key into the initiative and become self employed and independent.
Mr Suleiman Timothy, a Graduate Trainee, said that over 700 students were trained in fashion designing under the initiative.
Timothy said that over 100 of them were now sewing and showcasing their work, adding that what began as a modest economic empowerment project has evolved into a broader movement within the institution.
He described fashion as a global multi-billion-dollar industry that generates employment, builds brands, drives exports and empowers young people financially.
He appealed to the vice-chancellor to approve the upgrade of the initiative into a fully recognised fashion academy within the institution.
“A formal academy will provide structured certification, attract partnerships and industry collaborations, and position the university as a leader in creative and vocational excellence.
“If approved, the academy will enable students to learn, train others and develop professionally, including in modelling and entrepreneurship,” he said.
Miss Eliana Francis, one of the beneficiaries from the host community, expressed gratitude to the vice-chancellor for the kind gesture towards the participants.
Francis said that with the skill she had acquired in baking, she would make a living for herself and family.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highlight of the event was the presentation of certificates to all the participants. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Kadiri Abdulrahman
