Give attention to entrepreneurship training
The Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Mr Antwi Boasiako Sekyere, has charged vocational institutions in the country to strengthen their entrepreneurship training module to prepare and propel graduates to venture into their own businesses.
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He said since unemployment had become a major global issue, especially in the African continent, there was the need for vocational and technical institutions to channel their programmes to equip graduates to undertake their own businesses.
Speaking at the 38th Annual Certification of Opportunity Industrialisation Centre (OIC) in Accra, Mr Sekyere expressed concern that despite people spending years in schools and colleges, most graduates “are not well equipped in terms of practical job skills.”
“It is about time we realised the need to be industry-ready. Research has it that incompatibility between learning and application could lead to unwarranted situations. In order to ensure a desired balance, we should also try to look at quality issues, among others,” he said.
In all, 211 students drawn from eight disciplines, namely: Graphic Arts, Textiles, Auto Mechanics, Office and Computer Skills, Catering, Masonry, Plumbing and General Electrical, graduated.
Commenting on the theme for the ceremony: “Reinforcing quality and demand driven hands-on training for better job opportunities,” Mr Sekyere said: “quality and demand-driven skills are the toast of talent hunters.”
The minister, therefore, pledged the government’s commitment to continue to provide the necessary support to the various vocational training institutions in the country.
About OIC and its courses
In his welcome address, the Centre Manager of OIC, Mr Mawuli Sogbey, said since its inception in 1971, OIC had focused its courses on contributing to the human resources and economic development of Ghana through the provision of employable skills to the deprived, unskilled, underprivileged and unemployed youth.
“With the kind of support from public, stakeholders, sponsors and corporate bodies, OIC continues to train the underprivileged youth in eight disciplines,” he said.
According to Mr Sogbey, as part of effort to enhance the capacity of the youth, OIC had introduced guidance and counselling as a key component to its training package, adding: “this assists the trainees in developing high self-image in their vocational and technical training.”
He, however, mentioned the lack of GETFund to support the infrastructural expansion of OIC as the major problem that posed danger to the academic activities of the school.
Advice to graduates
Mr Sogbey urged the graduands to use the skills they had acquired to enhance their livelihood and also contribute to the economic development of Ghana.
“I wish to implore you to take maximum advantage of them. Do exhibit high sense of discipline, efficiency and good moral judgement in all your future endeavours,” he said.
