ATABOR JULIUS LOKOJA
Three gifted and innovative students of Saint Peters College Idah, Kogi state have been awarded automatic Scholarship by the management of Korea – Nigeria Friendship Institute , NKFI Lokoja, kogi state capital.
The students are Samson Emeje, Yusuf Ayuba and Tenimu Abubakar.
This is just as the Rector of the Institute Charles William Oluwatoyin appealled to the state governor , Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to come to the aid of the institute to meet the demand of the forthcoming resource inspection by the National Board for Technical Education NBTE.
The Rector, while conducting the students and their Principal round the instructional facilities in the school on Tuesday noted that the students have exhibited rare technical skills and deserved to be aided to advance their talents in order to be useful to the society.
He said, the institute has been noted globally for the training of skill manpowers in the advancement of science and technology.contributing to the growth and development of the state.
He disclosed that the management was moved to action, by the feat displayed by the students at the 2021-2022 Junior Engineering and Technology JET exhibition who showed their innovative skills by manufacturing SUV car, Trucks and tricycles from locally sourced materials.
According to him, people with creative minds are special human beings and as such ,have the ability to put things on paper and translate it into reality that can be touched and felt.
“I’m excited that this young boys who have just completed their secondary school education, have creativity and natural gift in them- what else can I use my office to do – rather than to help them nurture their dreams to become what they want to become in life.
“That is why I invited them to the institute to award them a full scholarship to develop their skills that in future can be used to take this country to another level.
“It is obvious that no nation can develop without skill acquisition in the area of technology, and I’m happy because I was able to catch them young and in the next two years I will help them to develop their skill in auto mechanic , electrical and welding.
” It is also a fact that paper qualification is not enough for a graduate to survive in the 21st century, therefore as a graduate you should learn special skills that will give you an edge in the society.
“Here in the institute, we have programmes that are tailored for graduates who want to have special skill. We also have National Diploma Certificate approved by the NBTE . Any smart graduate will take advantage of this institute” He assured.
Speaking further, he disclosed that the graduates of the institution have nothing to do with unemployment as they are sought for by industries and corporate Organizations.
He called on politicians and
Corporate organizations and governments to beam their searchlights on young people who have natural skill like this three students we gave scholarship to come to undertake life transformation courses offered by the Institute.
He explained that, the mandate of the school was not to generate revenue, but , to Principally stem the tide of unemployment, and to build the capacity of the youths to have a better society.
While assuring the government of its capacity to produce industry minded graduates to reduce incidence of unemployment and curb restiveness, called for massive financial resources to achieve its mandate.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Emeje Samson,29 years old said he got the inspiration from his childhood as he often constructs his innovation with ease .
He thanked the NKFI for the gesture and optimistic of realising their dreams.
Meanwhile, Principal of the college, Zakari Jonah, commended the institute for the scholarship and promise to create awareness among secondary school students to embrace the school to further their academic pursuits.
He added that these three students were participants in the 2022 Science Exhibition where they showcased their manufactured SUV car, trucks and tricyle stressing that some officials of the institute were in attendance, who took special interest on the students.
He implored governments at all levels to go to the grassroots to identify talents and develop them through technical and vocational education in order to be self reliant.
