The Federal Ministry of Finance in collaboration with Peak View Facility Services Limited recently organized a three day career development and entrepreneurship program for graduates in Kogi State.
In her address Hajia Memunat Usman representing the Project Director, Graduate Internship Scheme, Mr. Dennis Chukwu said since its inception, the scheme had demonstrated high prospects for job creation and social protection of youth. " GIS has entered into special partnerships with governmental and non-governmental organizations to have graduates trained, mentored and supported in areas such as non oil export trade, ICT, agriculture, community health, construction, financial inclusion amongst others" she said.
Hajia usman also noted that so far, 41,161 graduates had benefitted from the scheme with 68% males, 31% females and 1% vulnerable. Adding that over 35,000 have exited the scheme, with thousands of them having secured jobs, credit facilities and grants to expand businesses that they set up using GIS stipends.
In the course of the three day Career Development and Entrepreneurship program, interns received a series lectures on topics ranging from Basic Business Planning and Financial Management Tools for Entrepreneurial Development, Skills Required for the Workplace, Career Development Planning, Basic Concepts for Selling and Promoting Small and Medium Scale Businesses among others.
Principal Consultant of the Peak View facility services, Mr. Henry Osehimolen while speaking on purpose of the training program noted that its aim was to expand the mindset of interns to see their skills as a lifestyle, work independently to explore ways to build soft skills that will give them an edge in their job seeking endeavors.
The interns who had served out their one year said the program had Mr. Sunday Adaji one of the interns said he had been able to buy two motorcycles to start a transportation business from the money he saved from the GIS stipends.
Another intern Mrs Blessing Nwankwo said "at the course of the program I was posted to a school and I immensely enjoyed the teaching experience. With the one year teaching experience I had garnered I was able to get a teaching job with the Kogi State Teaching Service Commission and I also started a fresh juice and pop corn making business".
Mr. Adejo Gambo another intern said the program had changed his life forever. "In the course of this program I was able to save some money and start a sheep farming business, so far I have realized over N120, 000 from my farming business" He said.
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