AUCHI POLYTECHNIC GRADUATES 14,603 SKILLED ARTISANS, ISSUES NATIONAL SKILLS CERTIFICATES

By Cyril Oluwabusayomi 

AUCHI – In what has been described as a major milestone in Nigeria's drive towards skills acquisition, youth empowerment and economic development, Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, has graduated and awarded National Skills Qualification (NSQ) certificates to no fewer than 14,603 trainees under its Centre for Innovation and Skills Acquisition (CISA).

The colourful ceremony marked the induction of the institution's maiden set of skilled and vocational graduates who successfully completed training in various trades and craftsmanship accredited under the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).

The graduates were trained in over 12 different vocational and technical fields, including Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism, Agriculture and Agro-Processing, Animal Husbandry, Commercial and Office Administration, Cosmetology and Beauty, Fashion Design and Leather Works, among other skill areas.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Rector of Auchi Polytechnic, Dr. Shehu Salisu Umar, described the graduation as a significant step towards addressing unemployment and promoting self-reliance through practical skills development. He explained that the Centre for Innovation and Skills Acquisition was established in line with national and international best practices to produce competent artisans capable of providing quality services that would contribute meaningfully to national development.

According to the Rector, the initiative aligns with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE)'s National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), which provides a nationally recognised system for competency-based assessment and certification of skilled workers in the informal sector, placing them on a professional footing comparable to those in the formal education system.

Dr. Umar noted that the polytechnic remains committed to producing globally competitive manpower through quality vocational education, stressing that the Centre for Innovation and Skills Acquisition has grown beyond serving its immediate environment and is now strategically positioned to cater for both national and international communities.

He urged the graduating trainees to deploy the knowledge and practical skills acquired during their training to create employment opportunities, improve service delivery and contribute to Nigeria's economic transformation.

The event attracted education stakeholders, industry practitioners, government officials, parents and well-wishers, who commended the institution for championing skills development and producing a new generation of certified professionals equipped to meet the demands of the modern economy.

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