By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
No fewer than 201 Students have graduated from Centre for Human Resources Development of the National Open University of Nigeria, (NOUN) in collaboration with the Centre for Human Resources Development and Empowerment initiative (CHRDEI), in various skills Acquisition programmes in Kaduna State.
In his address to the graduating students, Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima assured that Federal government will continue to encourage and support NOUN in floating such important training, at a time when the present administration is rolling out so many beneficial programmes to the masses.
Shettima noted that such programmes would require credible and competently trained personnel to implement them.
Shettima, represented by Majority leader, Kaduna state House of Assembly, Honourable Ahmed Mohammed Chokali, said he reckons with the school’s initiative and commend all the collaborating institutions for a well thought and carefully implemented training, which tallies with the developmental strides of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Also Speaking, Vice-Chencellor of NOUN, Professor Olufemi Peters, represented by Professor Oduma Orji Oduma, Deputy Vice -Chencellor Academics, stated that “With 201 trainees deserving Certificates of completion today, it is indisputable that every year we make greater leaps, moreso it is a reaffirmation of the increasing confidence reposed by Nigerians on the competencies and integrity of the National Open University of Nigeria.”
Professor Orji, further said, “these graduating Class of 201, were trained in information and Communication Technology and Web Design, further testify to the role of NOUN in developing competencies for a new global order, driven by information and emerging technologies.
He noted that the university gives opportunities and has sustained the streak in it’s continued effort to live up to its mandate, of providing wider access to education generally but more specifically, enhanced education for all and life -long learning.
Earlier in his speech, the Founder, Centre for Human Resource Development and Empowerment lnitiative (CHRDEI), Dr, Muhammad Ali, said “As you marvel at your daughter or son’s accompliments, it doesn’t seem that long ago when those that are graduating today can’t even start a computer or set an embroidery machine or printer but out of hard work and commitment. We celebrate their graduation having found them worthy both in character and in learning.
“This effort, your Excellency, deserves to be noted and promoted for the overall benefit of the nation and the citizens because having achieved what the graduating students have attained, none of them will look back or be attracted to becoming a social miscreant or a bandit in search of soft target or easy money from ransom payment or such other vices that threaten societal order.”
Dr Ali added that, “lack of empowerment and civic participation, lack of personal security are all problems confronting our youth population across the nation today. In so doing, government must make it a duty to establish enabling environment for jobs creation for the teaming youth population made up of graduate and artisans alike.”
“In our own little way, we are seeking to eradicate poverty from among our population and the womenfolk, and we believe the aspiration is for a society where no one regardless of physical location, gender, age, health, disability status, ethnic or religious identity is dependent at any rate over his/her life cycle.
“It is for this simple fact that the Centre for Human Resource Development and Empowerment lnitiative is taking no chances in training our youths; males and females in entrepreneurial development and inculcating in them the spirit of self-dependence and patriotism so that together we can build a virile society where Self-dependence should be the vogue and not begging and destitution,” he concluded.
Leave a Reply