The Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Uba Sani, has commended the National Open University of Nigeria Nigeria's (NOUN) Centre for Human Resource Development (CHRD) over its collaborative effort with the Centre for Human Resource Development and Empowerment Initiative (CHRDEI), Kaduna for championing the course of human capital development.
The governor said this in a speech delivered by his representative, the Special Adviser on Monitoring and Evaluation, Mrs. Mary Adeola Olarerin at the 28th Graduation Ceremony of the NOUN CHRD, in collaboration with the CHRDEI, held in Kaduna.
The governor extended his profound gratitude to the two stakeholders for their initiative and coming up with the idea of providing employability skills toward addressing unemployment within the circle of the state's teaming youths and other issues of concern.
Sani said the importance of the two centres in the state cannot be over emphasised as they engage in one of the critical projects of the state.
"Because of our passion in skills acquisition development, the state government had made all that is possible to establish three Skills Acquisition Villages, one of which is under construction in Rigachikun.
"To champion the course of Human Capital Development, Kaduna State government will collaborate with the centres to provide an enhanced skills development," Sani added.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Occasion, Chairman, House Committee on Education, Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Barrister, Mahmud Lawal Ismaila, stated that due to the governor's passion to providing quality and serene environment for learning, the state has allocated 26% percent of its budget appropriation to education.
Moreover, he said, the governor has reduced the state tertiary institutions' tuition fees by 50% percent to accommodate and make all inclusive access to education in the state.
He added that the current administration has upgraded more than one hundred Junior Secondary Schools to Senior Secondary Schools to accommodate students seeking upper grade education.
Speaking on NOUN's unwavering support towards education and community development in the state, he said the idea is worth emulating, and urged other institutions in the state to emulate the good gesture.
On his part, the Vice-Chancellor, NOUN, Prof. Olufemi Peters, stated that the NOUN cherishes partnership and collaboration because two heads will do better than one.
He added that the university management was recently at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to establish a robust collaboration with the commission. "This is to tell you how serious NOUN is with regards to productive collaboration."
Peters, represented by his deputy, administration, Prof. Isaac Butswat, acknowledged the efforts and the good gesture of the founder and initiator of the CHRDEI for providing the teaming youth with the opportunity and necessary skills to become self-employed.
He urged the graduates to appreciate and extend their gratitude to God, NOUN, CHRD and the founder of the CHRDEI for granting them the privilege of having training and skills over others who may only have certificate qualifications.
The founder and initiator of the CHRDEI, Hon. Dr. Muhammad Ali, said living through six months of training and the challenges may have seemed like eternity to some students because of the rules and procedures which were intended to capable students both in character and in learning and practical skills application.
He said that this was the more reason why they pride themselves that the certificates given by the NOUN in collaboration with CHRDEI Kaduna are earned not for sale.
He explained that it is important to remind the students that they are graduating at a time when the country is dealing with enormous challenges such as unemployment, and insecurity ranging from banditry, cattle rustling and the economy of violence, which were challenging the expertise and the patience of the security agencies.
Ali added that it is also a time when opportunity created by the NOUN in collaboration with CHRDEI through skills technical and vocational training will give them an edge over any job- seeking applicant who only relies on paper qualification.
He then encouraged the graduates to reflect on the knowledge experience and skills they have acquired during their time at the centre.
At the ceremony, 185 graduates who have undergone training in various vocational skills were graduated, including the symbolic presentation of certificates.
There were also presentations of gifts preceded by the good will messages from high profile individuals from the state and beyond who graciously attended the occasion.
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