By Oluseyi Dasilva, Ilorin
The Kwara state government has unveiled plans to upgrade the International Vocational Technical and Entrepreneurship College, IVTEC, Ajase Ipo, Kwara state to a Higher National Diploma-awarding institution.
The college has been awarding professional certificates since its commencement of operation on April 30, 2018 when it was established to impart modern skill acquisition in youth in the state.
Speaking at 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 at the event by the state commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr. Ibrahim Sulyman, said that the greatest problem facing nations of the world today was inability to provide sustainable employment to their 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.
Also, speaking, the rector of the institution, Dr Ade Somide, said that a total number of 210 graduates were graduated in such fields as automotive mechanics (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.
“In accordance with this MOU, the NDE and World Bank financed the in-centre training costs of these trainees. An additional 50 of our graduates today comprising direct applicants and those sponsored by well-meaning Kwarans during the 2020 / 2021 session,” he said.