The Non-governmental Association of Literary Support Services (NOGALSS) has graduated 99 students in computer software, hardware engineering and culinary arts.
At the graduation ceremony in Abuja on Friday, the National President of NOGALSS, Noah Emmanuel charged the graduands to contribute their quota to the growth and development of the nation.
“NOGALSS exists to empower Nigerians by promoting literacy, skill acquisition, and vocational education, which are critical to reducing poverty, enhancing employability, and fostering national development.
“Today’s event aligns perfectly with this mission. These 99 graduates are a testament to the life-changing impact of education and skills acquisition.
“As we celebrate today, we are reminded of the challenges facing vocational education and literacy in our country.
“This calls for greater collaboration among stakeholders, including government agencies, development partners, and civil society organisations.
” Let us resolve to make 2025 a year of greater impact by building on the foundations we have laid,” he said.
Emmanuel explained that with the graduation, 99 persons were being taking out of the street and trained to contribute to the development of the society.
He called on stakeholders to remain committed to fostering skills development and literacy across the country, saying that this would empower more Nigerians thereby creating a brighter future for the country.
Also, Engr. Olakunle Ojelade from the Ministry of Labour and Employment, urged the graduands to endeavour they possess a trade test certification that would enable them practice anywhere in the world.
Ojelade commended the graduating students for engaging in skills that would make them self sufficient rather than going into various vices.
“After you have gone through the trainings, you need certification from the government and that is why we want you to open your eyes to the opportunities that abound in the ministry.
“You need a national and international certificate of recognition so that from here, not only that you can be self employed, you can also look for employment in any organisation in Nigeria.
“The certification is internationally recognised by ILO for those that want to leave the country for greener pasture,” he said.
Mr Anthony Abulu, Chief Executive, White Dish Culinary Academy, said the organisation was set up to build the capacity of the marginalised people.
“The foundation of any developed country is education and we are talking about building the marginalised people and without it there will be no national development, economic growth and mutual peace.
“We have been training students for the past 15 years. And so far we have been able to train 6,500 students.
“We are happy to come in collaboration with NOGALSS and we call on more people willing to learn these crafts to come so we can train them,” he said.
On the other hand, Babatunde Olugbemi, Chief Executive Officer, Baba T. Engineering Ltd. said it was time Nigeria move her citizens to a greater competitive position with global market place.
Acknowledging that the demography potential for creativity and growth is the youth population, Olugbemi said that the inadequate access to skill education services had limited the productivity potential of young people.
“Nigeria, the largest and the most populous economy in Africa is experiencing a youth populace as the population of the young people grow rapidly.
“Large proportion of working age population are turning into the labour market as the country’s population continues to grow at an annual rate of 2.3 per cent according to UN data.
“Estimatedly, about 11 million young people are expected to join the rank of Nigeria working age population by 2030.
“Inadequate access to skill education services limit the productivity potential of young people which is compounded by lack of meaningful work,” he said.
