WRITTEN BY EMMANUEL OKONKWO
As part of the present administration’s efforts to making the youths and students in the state self reliant,
the State Ministry of Economic Planning, Budget and Development Partners and Ministry of Education in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, UNIDO, have organized a sensitization workshop for Principals and Vice Principals of selected secondary schools on UNIDO supported Hewlett Packard-Learning Initiative For Entrepreneurs, HP-LIFE, project in the State.
The event which was held at the IDK learning centre in Awka, exposed participants to some techniques for establishing and managing businesses for positive outcome, ranging from design thinking, strategic planning, financing, among others, and as well how best to train students to be employers of labour after graduation.
The UNIDO HP-life project which aims at achieving a zero unemployment level amongst youths and students in the state and will soon be added to the school curriculum, to expose students to ways to become self reliant through skills and entrepreneurship.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Basic Education, Professor Kate Omenugha, commended UNIDO for the initiative, noting that it is in line with the strategic objective of the Education sector of the Obiano administration which aims at making the state one of the three top states with lowest illiteracy rate.
Professor Omenugha, stated that skills remain the best means of survival in today’s society where white collar job is no more in vogue , urging teachers to be more proactive in handling entrepreneur courses in their schools to help the students acquire skills while still in school.
In a remark, the UNIDO National Coordinator in charge of PH-LIFE project, Mr. Francis Ukoh, while disclosing that the project is designed in a way that secondary school students especially those in technical schools will be trained and equipped with knowledge and skills to manage businesses and become self employed after graduation.
Enlightening the participants on the vision and mission of the UNIDO the Ministry of Education UNIDO Desk Officer, Mr. Chidiebele Odogwu, charged parents to always encourage their children and students to key into skill acquisition and entrepreneurship, to make them industrious and self sufficient even while in school.
Speaking to the ABS, some of the participants, the Principal Girls’ Secondary School Amaenyi Awka, Lady Winny Ibezim, and her Orjiako Memorial Secondary School counterpart, Lady Joy Izukah, described the project as apt as it would help in reducing unemployment rate among graduates.
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