Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, the Vice-chancellor University of Abuja has called on youths especially students to embrace innovation and creativity to boost the nation’s economy and national development of the country.
The VC made the call at the University, during the 3rd Student Employment Scheme Reward Day with the Theme Titled “Building The Student Workforce for Sustaining the 21st Century Manpower and Human Resources.
Prof. Na’Allah maintained that the university is motivated and reinvigorated more than ever, to continue to teach its students to value their own imagination and provide them with creative opportunities.
He tasked the students to think out of the box and embrace entrepreneurship rather than search for white-collar jobs to be self employed after school.
Meanwhile, he urged leaders to deliberately invest in the youth and begin to think out of the box by approaching issues from different perspectives to achieve new results for economic development.
He also adviced newly graduated students to deplore their education to the practical realities of contributing solutions to the problems of humanity.
However, he affirmed that the UNIAbuja ultimate goal is to produce dual certificated graduates that will be positive change agents in the society.
In her welcome address, Dr Grace Oyiza Anibasa the Director Centre for Siwes, Student Mentoring and Employment (CSSME) said the Centre has recruited about 1000 students with 90 per cent on the paid scheme.
Dr Grace said the Scheme is aimed at building ideal work ethics, values, employability skills of students and developing their total person towards sustainable community and National development.
According to her, the scheme creates paid and voluntary work placement opportunities for students across units and departments of the University.
She maintained that the scheme has also expanded to include a policy statement that involves all university partners and campus businesses for the provision of work placement opportunities for students.
“University of Abuja students with CGPA of 3.50 and above from 200 level up to their penultimate year of study can work, learn and excel via this scheme.
“The reward Day is actually an avenue to celebrate hardworking, distinctive and outstanding student workers and to create further awareness to students, staff and the public on the need to build the young workforce.
“Students will acquire entrepreneurial and vocational skills that will enable them create jobs and wealth instead of becoming job seekers,” she said. (NAN)