By Aminah Salako – Adekunle
Educational institutions in the country have been tasked to collaborate with industry stakeholders to develop curricula that align with workforce demands.
This is also to ensure a deliberate shift from theory – based curricula, to skill – driven and industry relevant one.
A Keynote Speaker, at the maiden jointly convocation ceremony of Bachelor of Science Degree Programme in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management, of Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies and University of Ilorin, Frank Uzo Ehichanya, gave the charge in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
Mr. Ehichanya represented by Mr. Ahmed Adeyemi, identified challenges in grooming future managers of people to include skills mismatch, technological disruption, soft skills deficiency and limited access to continuous learning.
He however, pointed out that the issues could be resolved with curriculum reform, emphasis on soft skills, promotion of lifelong learning, mentorship, coaching, among other.
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barrister Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, represented by the State Controller, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr. Orodiran Bola, advised the graduands to deploy their personal achievements for the growth of society.
Barrister Onyejeocha, who said that challenges are inevitable in life, implored the students to develop resilient attitude to surmount them.
Earlier in an address of welcome, Director General of the Institute, Comrade Issa Aremu, affirmed that arrangements are on to commence Professional Post Graduate courses, to complement the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on human capital development.
Comrade Aremu said the maiden graduation ceremony by MINILS further compliments the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Human capital Development adding that in the two years of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria’s education policies have commendably undergone significant transformation focused on inclusivity, skill acquisition, data-driven planning, and education quality enhancement.
Aremu saluted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for setting up the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, which he said had made hundreds of thousands indigent students access higher education adding that 10,789 students at the University of Ilorin have benefited from the NELFUND hence the need for students of its affiliated Institutions like MINILS to benefit.
Comrade Aremu directed the Head of Academic Department of MINILS to leverage on the partnership with University of Ilorin to make sure that the new undergraduates of MINILS Bsc. programme benefit from NELFUND. He called for improved regular funding of Development Training labour market Institutions such as MINILS.
L-R: The Best Graduating Students, Faith Funmilayo Aina, Sidiqat Opeyemi Ahmed and Miss Shehu
The Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole, represented by Director, Centre for Affiliated Institution, Prof. Yahaya Oyewole – Imam urged the graduands to imbibe good manners while urging other students of the institute to take advantage of NELFUND to advance their career.
The Coordinator of Academic Programmes, Dr. Sylvanus Adamade, explained that Twenty, out of Thirty-three pioneer students graduated, while ten of them graduated with Second Class Upper and the other ten had Second Class Lower.
The Best Graduating Students, Miss Funmilayo Aina and Sidiqat Ahmed were offered automatic employment in the institute among other prizes.
