Unical VC To Students: Be Job Creators Not Job Seekers

Unical VC, Prof. Zana Akpagu

Ubong Inyang

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Prof. Zana Akpagu has urged students of the institution to acquire industrial and entrepreneurial skills that would make them job creators rather than job seekers.

Prof. Akpagu who stated this during the 1ST quarterly meeting of Directors of the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) held at the institution’s Council Chamber said rather than engage in endless search for white collar jobs students should strive hard to equip themselves with industrial skills that would enable them create jobs after graduation.

The Vice Chancellor who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. (Mrs) Lucy Udida welcomed the SIWES team to UNICAL, adding that the program would help in churning out value-driven entrepreneurs and job creators who can help in bridging the unemployment gap in the country.

This is even as he commended the Director of SIWES in UNICAL, Dr. Idaka Idaka for the successes recorded so far in ensuring that students of the institution keyed into the program.

He said his administration remains passionate and committed towards sustaining the SIWES program, saying he would not rest on his oars but ensure that students of the institution stands out among their contemporaries after graduation.

Also speaking, Head of training, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Mr. Nwigboji Nwafagu thanked the Vice Chancellor for the warm reception even as he commended him for the robust partnership in making the program a success.

Mr. Nwafagu who represented the Area Manager of ITF said hundreds of students were trained last year in various skills areas, stressing that ITF was on a mission to rescue the country from the shackles of unemployment by ensuring that every graduate is well equipped with industrial skills that will help them create jobs for themselves.

He said UNICAL being a tertiary institution is a fertile ground through which the aims and objectives of the SIWES program can be achieved even as he described graduates with industrial skills as an asset to the country.

Earlier, the Director of SIWES in UNICAL, Dr. Idaka Idaka had led the SIWES team on a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor.

During the visit, Dr. Idaka had commended the Vice Chancellor for providing an enabling environment for the SIWES program to function optimally.

Dr. Idaka who described the partnership between UNICAL and SIWES as a formidable one said the program would provide graduates of the institution with basic skills which would enable them compete favourably on the global stage.