NGO trains 40 unemployed graduates on entrepreneurship

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

As part of efforts to enable unemployed university and polytechnics graduates acquire skills that will make them employable and competitive in a changing world, an NGO, Center for Information and Technology Development (CITAD) has organized a career development and entrepreneurship opportunities training for unemployed graduates.
Speaking, during a one day workshop on techniques and employment/entrepreneurship opportunities at CITAD conference hall, Bauchi, the Research Assistant with CITAD Alhaji Hamza Ibrahim Chinade, said that the purpose of setting up Job Placement Information Services Unit (JOPIS) was for the unemployed graduates to acquire employable skills, stressing that the unit has demonstrated high prospects to unemployed graduates for job acquiring skills from Foundations, NGOs ,Government and wealthy individual.
Ibrahim Chinade disclosed that about 30 graduates were targeted to benefited from the training but over 40 turn up, graduates from ATBU Bauchi, Fedpoly Bauchi and University of Maiduguri whom we develop sound business ideas of securing jobs and skils of becoming self reliance”
“As long as number of graduates still remains unemployed, we will continue to improve the capacity of training more unemployed graduates to become employers of labour,” he said.
Chinade called on the unemployed graduates to work hard and create job for the next generation, adding that the attitude of waiting to be employed by government might result to the next generation not having any job.

NGO trains 40 unemployed graduates on entrepreneurship

CITAD Trains ATBU and Federal Polytechnic Bauchi Students on Enterpreneurship Support Opportunities and Employment Interview Techniques.

By Hamza Ibrahim Chinade.

After conducting Interview Techniques and Enterpreneurship Support Opportunities Workshop for graduating students of Bayero University Kano, Northwest University, Kano state Polytechnic, Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education, Federal University Dutse and Jigawa state Polytechnic, the Job Placement and Information Service (JOPIS) unit of the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has organized another similar workshop for the students of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) and Federal Polytechnic Bauchi.

The workshop which took place at the Bauchi office of CITAD exposes the participants into various skills that help job seekers succeed at employment interviews and entrepreneurship support opportunities in form of loans and grants for startup businesses in order for the youths to become self reliant. Earlier in his opening remarks, JOPIS Coordinator, Sagir Ado Abubakar urged the participants to feel free and ask questions where necessary as the workshop is meant to prepare towards becoming innovative entrepreneurs or succeed at employment interviews.

Facilitating a session on Interview Techniques and CV Development, Mr. Ahmadu Adamu, the regional manager of Integrated Corporate Services encouraged the participants to always take their time to develop a “Winning CV” that will sell them before their prospective employers and prepare well and adhere to ethics and skills of attending an employment interview emphasizing that it is a foundation for securing a job.

Some people use the unemployment scenario to dupe gullible and desperate youths in search of employment, said Sagiru Ado Abubakar who presented on “Job Scams”. Sagiru identified several tricks used by 419ers such as asking for payment for appointment, interviews, lacking concrete and verifiable address by the scammers, using fake identity on social networking sites, having no websites etc, he warned the participants to beware of dubious people who normally lure job seekers with fake claims.

The last session on “Enterpreneurship Support Opportunities” was facilitated by Hamza Ibrahim. The participants were presented with series of entrepreneurial support opportunities sources as well as procedures and requirements for applying. The facilitator explained in detail the thousands of untapped business ideas that can be utilized by the participants and get some grants or loans to startup their own businesses. The participants asked many questions regarding the qualification of a business to win grants or secure loans, and whether or not graduating students of Urban and Regional Planning can establish estate management service and can have a grant to startup etc. The questions and comments were clarified by the facilitator. Websites of grants and loan sources were given to the participants and many of them indicated interest in developing business ideas and applying for grants or loans in order to become self reliant. Â