NITAD graduates 6000 soft-skilled youths

‎The Nigerian Institute of Training & Development (NITAD) has equipped over 6000 youths with technical and soft skills to combat unemployment.

Its President, Mrs. Janet Jolaoso, said the training has taken a lot of youths out of the unemployment market and also aided graduates of universities and other higher institutions to acquire soft skills to be entrepreneurs and employers of labour.

She spoke at the Special Induction Ceremony, which was the 22nd edition in the series of the institute’s induction programmes and the second Postgraduate Diploma in Training and Development Graduation Ceremony in Lagos, over the weekend.

She said the institute, which has not been chartered awaits approval from the National Assembly and has begun the Mandatory Continuous Professional Education (MCPE) programme for individuals, corporate members.

Efforts are also on to embark on re-certification exercise of its members including the introduction of professional licences.

Earlier, Chairman, Annual Conference Trainers Conference, Mr. Oluwaseyi Kuton, said the institute was collaborating with both the Lagos and Ogun states’ Ministry of Education to enroll secondary school students and encourage them to identify their interests and hone their skills through technical education.

According to him, students are encouraged to identify their passion and pursue it.

Kuton regretted the identifiable educational and skill gaps in the education system, noting that the economy cannot grow with the teeming number of unemployed graduates that are not equipped for the market place.

He suggested that since there are limited jobs, school leavers should be trained in soft skills to make them successful entrepreneurs and employers of labour including training in character and attitude to work.

Kuton encouraged those who already have skills to enroll with NITAD to enhance their skills as the market place is limited and highly competitive.