Ekiti Former Speaker, Aribisogan, Inaugurates Journalism School

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

A former Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Gboyega Aribisogan, has suggested ways to address the problem of unemployment in Nigeria, saying the youths need to be equipped with vocational and entrepreneurial skills.

Aribisogan noted that this would enable them to not only become self-employed but also become employers of labour themselves.

He made the remarks at the inauguration of a journalism school, ‘Africanvoice International Training and Development Academy’ in Ado-Ekiti, which took place at the academy complex.

Aribisogan said the focus of the academy is on equipping the youths with innovative, creative and entrepreneurial skills.

He said: “The academy will initially provide training in three focus areas and gradually expand to other areas with time.  The three areas to cover for a start are Journalism, Information Technology and Entrepreneurship. They are Africanvoice International School of Journalism and Communication, College of Information Technology, and College of Entrepreneurship and Vocational Education.”

Aribisogan noted that the academy would collaborate with governmental agencies, development partners, non-governmental organisations, and other educational institutions to achieve the objectives of enhancing the productive capacity of human capital for sustained productivity and development.

In her opening speech, the Chairman, Planning Committee, Mrs. Yemisi Ayokunle, said it is a unique educational institution that was conceived to provide both academic knowledge and intensive hands-on training for its students and trainees, thereby ensuring that they become competent, confident, and competitive in their chosen careers.

“The academy will provide refresher and capacity building programmes for already employed workers and professionals who wish to update their knowledge and or sharpen their skills.”