From Esther Akaa, Lafia
Nasarawa State Government has graduated 69 civil servant trainees in various vocational and technical skills to prepare them ahead of retirement from the state civil service.
The training which started two weeks ago was organised by the Office of the State Head of Service (HoS) in collaboration with Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Technology Institute Lafia.
Speaking on Thursday at the graduation ceremony held in Lafia, Acting HoS, Barr Abigail Waya, said the initiative was a demonstration of Governor Abdullahi Sule’s commitment towards capacity building and empowerment of both the young and old in the state.
Waya explained further that training was aimed at providing the trainees with requisite skills that would help them become self-reliant at retirement, saying that it was first of its kind in the history of the state.
“I am truly amazed at the products you all have produced during this short period of training. There is indeed a sense of fulfillment that comes with making something with your hands and I believe this is a foundation that you have laid for yourselves.
“You can therefore take yourselves through the training to learn more and become the master in your chosen field.
“We will guide you on how to set up a business and I want to assure you that the fear of retirement has been taken away from you because you have been given something through the skills you have acquired due to the passion you have demonstrated during the training,” Waya said.
Waya commended the Director of the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Technology Institute, Dr Daniel Ewuga and his team for imparting the necessary skills on the graduands and charged them to maintain the tempo.
She, therefore congratulated the beneficiaries for attaining the feat and urged them to be more focus and diligent in whatever they do as they prepare towards their retirement from active service.
The HoS appreciated Governor Sule for approving the training for the beneficiaries, saying that the gesture will enable them to be independent especially at old age.
She used the opportunity to congratulate the governor for emerging victorious at the just concluded governorship election and appealed for more dividends of democracy in his second tenure.
Also speaking, Executive Director of the Institute, Dr Ewuga said the beneficiaries were trained on livestock production, Auto Mechanic, Electrical Installation, Leather works, Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Others he mentioned include; Cosmetology, tailoring and fashion design, baking, Pasteries and Confectioneries.
Ewuga expressed satisfaction at the level of participation in training by the graduands, saying that they were fully prepared for retirement.
He, therefore urged them to put the skills they have obtained to maximum use to enable them become employers of labour.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke including Alhaji Abubakar Umar, Rhoda Chube and Jummai Isa, all promised to put the skills acquired during the training into proper use for their own benefit.
They appreciated Sule for approving the pre-retirement vocational skills training for them and called for its sustainability.
The Voice reports that there was an exhibition of different products such as Vaseline, detergents, shoes, bags, dresses among others produced by graduands during the two weeks training.
Acting Head of Civil Service, Barr Abigail Waya (middle) presenting certificate to one of the graduands, Alhaji Abubakar Umar during the graduation ceremony, held in Lafia.
