The Vice-Chancellor,聽水果派 of Nigeria聽(NOUN), Prof.聽Olufemi Peters,聽has called on Kaduna State Government to resume the Kaduna State Artisans Training (KADAT11) programme with a view to enriching the massive infrastructural development of the state.
Peters聽stated聽this at the 25th聽Graduation聽Ceremony of the聽university鈥檚聽Centre for Human Resource Development聽(CHRD)聽in collaboration with the Centre for Human Resource Development and Empowerment Initiative聽(CHRDEI), on Saturday January聽14,聽2023聽in Kaduna.
The VC,聽represented by the聽Director,聽Centre of Excellence in Migration and Global Studies聽(CEMGS), Dr. Gloria Anetor,聽expressed that this year鈥檚聽ceremony聽was special in the sense that the 106 graduates were trained in Information and Communication Technology and Web Design,聽which聽adequately聽reflected聽the聽role of NOUN in the advancement of Nigeria’s educational system.
He said 鈥渂y developing appropriate competencies for a new global order, driven by information and emerging technologies, it聽is important to note that success in the聽information-driven world of today requires creativity and聽innovation far beyond the conventional education system to which many of us have聽hitherto been accustomed聽to.鈥
He added that many well paid jobs of the day are no longer for degree holders but for those that can creatively solve problems with special skills and add value to human existence.
鈥淚t is in聽light of this that the NOUN collaborates with credible stakeholders to enrich Nigerians for effective service delivery,鈥 Peters said.
He expressed that NOUN is聽in partnership聽with several public and private organisations within and outside Nigeria to deliver special competencies in various fields of human endeavors.
The Vice-Chancellor, therefore,聽assured聽the聽government and good people of Kaduna State聽that NOUN is here to provide both formal and聽informal learning at their聽convenience.
This, according to him,聽鈥渋s evidenced by the presence of our CHRD which聽symbolises聽the corporate social responsibility arm of the NOUN.鈥
He聽also聽appreciated the host Kaduna State Government and the federal government agencies for their support and聽offered his聽special gratitude to the founder and聽initiator of CHRDEI for his passion in partnering with NOUN empower the youth through the acquisition of relevant聽skills.
Delivering his welcome address,聽the聽CHRD director, Dr. Aminu Umar,聽said the graduation ceremony聽marked聽a watershed for聽the centre,聽鈥渞aising the aspiration of the great men and women to realise聽their聽potentials聽with a view to enhancing聽productivity in our society.鈥
He further appreciated the founder of the CHRDEI and his committed staff for their commitment and determination over the years in ensuring that their organisation collaborates with the NOUN to produce trainees that will add value to national development.
Peters聽tasked the community-based聽organisations,聽philanthropists, youths associations, international development partners and the聽federal, state and local agencies to exploit the opportunities at聽the centre聽towards the certification of trainees聽for the good of all.
In his remarks, the CHRDEI聽initiator,聽Dr. Muhammad Ali,聽stated that a total of 106 students trained in ICT and Web聽Design for six months聽free of charge.
鈥淭hat being their humble attempt of giving back to the society what the Society has given to them,鈥 said Ali.
He聽said聽the gesture has become incumbent upon them because of one greatest challenges facing government today is providing the youth meaningful and gainful employment, social聽empowerment and opportunities for personal development.
鈥淭herefore, the CHRDEI cannot thank the NOUN enough for affording the聽centre golden聽opportunity to collaborate with CHRD these past 11 years in order聽to聽contribute its quota towards聽human聽capital聽development,鈥 he said.
Earlier, the聽chairman of the occasion, Mallam Musa Jika,聽stated that the graduates were already making progress in their life through the acquired skills.
Jika further said NOUN is not聽being聽seen as聽an聽institute of learning alone but a forum that provides聽a means of self dependent.
He, therefore,聽commended聽the university聽for this great聽initiative and tasked the graduates to be good ambassadors.
The聽NOUN聽Vice-Chancellor,聽assisted by the CHRD聽director, later,聽held a symbolic presentation and confirmation of certificates to the graduates.
There聽were goodwill聽messages from high profile personalities who graced the accession.
Representative聽of NOUN Registrar,聽Bursar and Librarian, Commandant聽of聽Air Force Institute of Technology, Rector,聽Kaduna Polytechnic, lecturers from聽Faculty of聽Education and a traditional title holder of Hakimin Kabala graced the occasion.