By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
The Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), says it has commenced Post Graduate Diploma in Career, Guidance and Counselling.
Mr Issa Aremu, the Director-General (D-G) of the institute, said this in Ilorin at the opening ceremony of the postgraduate programme.
He explained that the pilot programme will include 20 participants from across the country.
He said: “We are going to be awarding postgraduate diploma in Career, Guidance and Counselling with a view to promoting employability and sustainable jobs in the world of works.”
Aremu said that the institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GIZ to offer a professional postgraduate diploma, adding that the enduring partnership and technical support have been instrumental in realising the programme.
“It is hoped that through this, it can strengthen lifelong career development services, enhance employability, and promote informed career decision-making in Nigeria’s evolving labour market.
“This collaboration has since yielded visible outcomes. In August, GIZ’s technical team, led by Dr Shahinaz Khalil, visited the institute to verify resources and capabilities in readiness for implementation.
“Furthermore, GIZ has continued to provide vital partnership support, including the donation of two laptops to aid programme delivery and the support for feeding and accommodation of 20 participants in this inaugural cohort,” he said.
According to him, the programme is structured to run for nine months, combining in-person classes at MINILS with a distance learning component delivered through its E-Campus platform.
He noted that beyond these contributions and developments, the collaboration embodies a strategic and future-oriented sustainability plan jointly developed by MINILS and GIZ.
“The plan ensures that these postgraduate diploma programmes will remain a permanent feature of the institute’s annual training calendar, after the initial partnership phase.
“It also includes a field/practicum component, during which participants will provide career guidance and counselling services to beneficiaries of the Labour, Employment, and Empowerment Programme (LEEP), thereby linking theory to practical impact in the Nigeria labour market,” he said.
Aremu said that the initiative aligns closely with Nigeria’s National Development Priorities, particularly in addressing unemployment, underemployment, and the need for skilled career professionals to guide the nation’s growing workforce.
He added that it also supports the Decent Work Agenda of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and contributes to the Human Capital Development pillar of President Bola Tinubu.
“The president’s Renewed Hope Agenda emphasises job creation, quality education, and workforce empowerment,” he said.
The director-general said that it is expected that after the programme, the postgraduate students would also be able to train others in the skills they have acquired. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Yetunde Fatungase
