No fewer than 385 students of Peaceland University, Enugu are currently undergoing training in various vocational skills.
The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the training was organised in partnership with an NGO, Potters Wheel Foundation, TPWF.
NAN also reports that the initiative is aimed at equipping students with practical skills, as well as enhance their productivity and employability upon graduation.
The university’s Director of Entrepreneurship Skills Development, Mr Donpedro Ani, said yesterday that the training took place at the institution’s Emene and Nkponkiti campuses.
According to him, it is mandatory for first and second year students of the institution to acquire skills before graduation, in line with the university Senate’s directive.
He said the training was organised in such a way that every session, each student would be made to register for a skill and at the end of the session, such student would present all that he/she must have learnt.
“It is compulsory for all students and it is part of their academic activities.
“We did the first training at Emene campus and this is the second part being held at Nkponkiti campus.
“We want to train our students in theoretical and practical knowledge that will make them self-reliant and productive after leaving school.
“The school does not want to train people who will be looking for jobs, but creators of jobs.
“We want to align their skills in other areas apart from what they are studying and at the end, they will be certified.
“We are training 385 students because we have only first and second year students,” Ani said.
President of TPWG, Mr Godsown Onuzulike, said the foundation is in partnership with the university in the training of students on vocational skills.
“The school has decided that students will not only graduate with certificate, but also with skills.
“The agreement is to ensure that every first year and second year student acquires a skill.
“We want to see more productive and employable graduates at the end of the programme, having taken them through network of vocations,” Onuzulike said.
According to him, the beneficiaries will be trained on digital skills, Information and Communication Technology, ICT, beauty and art, baking and confectioneries, as well as cosmetology, among others.
“They are short-term skills that can be learnt under two to three weeks or even one month, which they can combine with their studies,” he said.
One of the students, Iwu wisdom, said he picked interest in web design to explore more in digital areas, such as developing sites and software.
“As a computer student, this training is an opportunity for me to learn more in the digital space which will help me embrace the future,” he said. (NAN)
