SURE-P inducts 85 graduate interns under mentoring programme

[FMINigeria]

                        The Subsidy Reinvestment and  Empowerment Programme SURE-P in Nigeria has recently in a three -day orientation programme, inducted 85 graduate interns  under the first batch of  its Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) for mentoring. The graduates have been distributed to various organizations to sharpen their skills and for exposure to contemporary organizational management techniques.

SURE-P Convener of Community Services  for Women and Youth Development (CSWYE), Audu Maikori, speaking at the closing ceremony of the orientation programme, urged the graduates to use the opportunity to map out their career and contribute to the development of the nation.

" I urge you to take this privilege and prepare  yourselves for the labour market. This could  happen during or after the internship. You can be retained by firms, as good firms are always looking for good hands to move their products and services forward," Maikori said. He described the programme as innovative, stressing that those who are not retained would be skillfully competitive in their future endeavors.

The Convener also solicited for the support of the organized private sector to leverage the GIS operation and the absorption of the more than 85,000 unemployed Nigerian youths. Makori said that GIS remains one of SURE-P's contribution to reducing graduate unemployment and boosting skill acquisition by Nigerian youths.

Also speaking, the Team Leader of CSWYE, Olukayode Soremekun disclosed that the GIS offers graduates the opportunity of  working with world class firms for one year. He added that the period would afford the beneficiaries chance   to acquire technical skills and work ethics in their chosen sectors.

Soremekun explaining on SURE-P financial plan for them, revealed that it would pay the participants stipends to subsidize their transportation  and upkeep. He pointed that the programme was designed to serve as a stop-gap   between unemployment and full employment.

Remarking at the occasion, some of the graduates noted that the initial challenges of the programme included the mismatching of participants outside their discipline. Yahaya Mohammed also a participant, expressed displeasure with the uncoordinated manner of the programme saying it lacked motivation for participants. He urged SURE-P to display character and commitment toward the programme by paying the stipends on time.

Minatu Ibriahim, however commended SURE-P for alleviating the unemployment problem of graduates among other things. He urged SURE-P to go beyond the establishment of the programme by putting in place mechanisms that would sustain employment and graduate skill acquisition.

Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria

[Folami David]

Well this is a good one I must confess. It would definately improve education in this country. Good one