The Kwara State Government has said that plans are on to upgrade its skill acquisition centre, the International Vocational Technical and Entrepreneurship College (IVTEC), Ajase-Ipo, to a Higher National Diploma awarding institution.
The college, which commenced operations on April 30, 2018 to impart modern skill acquisition in youth in the state, is presently awarding professional certificates.
During the second graduation ceremony of the college in Ajase-Ipo on Thursday, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq said that it is imperative to focus on the need to graduate job creators rather than job seekers, “hence the huge investment in the establishment of this great citadel of learning.
“The state is looking at possibility of amending the law that established the institution to make it National Diploma and Higher National Diploma-awarding College. The process is already on and definitely it will be accompanied with necessary infrastructural facility”, he said.
The Governor, who was represented by the state commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr. Ibrahim Sulyman, at the event said that the greatest problem facing nations of the world today is inability to provide sustainable employment to teeming youths.
“It is worthy to note that semi-illiterates of the 21st century are not those without degrees but those without entrepreneurship and
Vocational skills. Thus, focus of the institution is in line with the state government’s desire to graduate skilled manpower from all tertiary institutions in the state”, he said.
The Rector of the institution, Dr. Ade Somide, said that a total number of 210 graduates were graduated in such fields as automotive mechanic (vehicle service and maintenance), plumbing, masonry, refrigeration and air-conditioning repairs and maintenance, desk top publishing and computer application, computer hardware maintenance and repairs, closed circuit TV/internet access installation, catering and culinary services, electrical installation and maintenance, furniture and cabinet making, etc.
“We are gathered here today to celebrate approximately 210 graduates of IVTEC certificate programmes of which 178 candidates represent the 3rd batch of The Youth Empowerment and Social Support Operations (YESSO) beneficiaries under an MOU signed between Kwara State, the World Bank and NDE in 2018.
He said that in accordance with the MOU, the NDE and World Bank financed the in-center training costs of these trainees. An additional 50 of our graduates today comprising of direct applicants and those sponsored by well-meaning Kwarans during the 2020/2021 session.
Dominica Nwabufo
