Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Peaceland University, Enugu, in partnership with Potters Wheel Foundation, has begun training of 385 students in various vocational skills.
The initiative was aimed at equipping students with practical skills as well as enhancing their productivity and employability upon graduation.
The university’s Director of Entrepreneurship Skill Development, Mr Donpedro Ani, said on Tuesday, that the training was usually held at the institution’s Emene and Nkponkiti campuses.
According to him, it is mandatory for first year and second year students of the institution to acquire skills before graduation, in line with the University Senate’s directive.
He said that 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 very compulsory for all the students and it is part of their academic activities.
“We have done the first training at Emene campus, and this is the second part being held at Nkponkiti campus.
“We want to train our students in both theoretical and practical knowledge that will make them self-reliant and productive after leaving school.
“The school doesn’t want to train people who will be looking for jobs, but creators of jobs.
“We want to align their skills in some other areas apart from what they are studying and by the end, they will be certified.
“We are training 385 students because we have only first and second year students,” Ani said.
The President of TPWG, Mr Godsown Onuzulike, said that the foundation was in partnership with the university in the training of the students on vocational skills.
“The school has decided that the 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, 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 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 that 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 digital space which will help me to embrace the future,” he said.
