The Federal Government’s Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) has organized a three day training for some sons and daughters of Bayelsa State as part of efforts to make them employable and self-reliant.

The Director of subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, Mr. Audu Maikori regretted that most firms require working experience for new workers which most graduates don’t have, as the firms do not wish to spend time and resources on green horns that may not eventually fit in.

He noted that SURE-P decided to organize three days training for graduates in Bayelsa State tagged: “Why Employers of Labour in the Country do not Engage Fresh Graduates in the Organization Project”.

According to Mr. Maikori, who was represented by the Director of Services, Mr. Anthony N. Kalu, “That was why most graduates remain unemployed due to their inability to hit the ground running”.

All the interns work in a private firm, Mount Tech Engineering Company based in the Bayelsa State Capital.

Mr. Kalu said Government observed this and came up with the graduate internship scheme (GIS), to prepare for the changes. The GIS commenced in October last year with the mandate to engage 50,000 Nigerian graduates by attaching them to firms where they would have acquired working experience and skills.

Each graduate was to be paid a stipend by government while on internship and is supposed to be on the scheme for a period of 12 months. Interns were also only being engaged in their neighbourhoods, so they do not have to spend much on transport and other expenses.

However, Mr. Kalu disclosed that the Company was looking forward to discussing the issue with the Federal Ministry of Finance while enjoining the interns to make maximum use of the opportunity granted them.

Mrs. Peju Adegoke, a consultant, lamented that the school system was not preparing students enough for the world, saying the major challenge was for the interns to know their expectations.

Adegoke, who took the interns on self awareness and understanding, stressed the need for self development as it was difficult to succeed in a competitive world without self development.

Source: Federal Ministry of Information
http://fmi.gov.ng/sure-p-organizes-skills-acquisition-programme-in-bayelsa/