BY: MOHAMED SAHR
Useful Hands Vocational Institution (UHVI) in partnership with Life by Design has officially produced qualified and problem solving entrepreneurs during its graduation ceremony held at CCSL Hall on Saturday 19th March, 2022.
When making his remarks, Bishop Benjamin Bangura, the Chairman of Useful Hands Vocational Institute said the institute has provided Technical Vocational Education Training for more than 22 years and that with the Government vision in stabilizing human capacity development through vocational training, the institution had mentored and trained 3,000 students country wide.
He said the repealing of the curriculum; provision of modern tools coupled with equipment and increasing the number of teaching staffs had impacted the effectiveness and efficiency of the students. ‘‘These students are the first sets of students graduating today from the Skills Development Fund project and more are set to graduate upon completion,’’ Bishop Benzamine Bangura reaffirmed.
He urged the grandaunts to fully put into practice the moral standards they acquired during the series of their training in the various work places they find themselves.
Abubakarr Senesie, Acting Director of Technical Vocational Education Training felt grateful for the enhancement of the skills of young people through the support of Useful Hands Vocational Institution thereby complementing government effort in alleviating human capital development. He said skills enhancements serve as the basis of national development.
Alpha Habib Bangura, Curriculum Design Consultant of Life by Design said the six months program is fashioned towards gaining problem solving skills that would enable grandaunts otherwise entrepreneurs to transform the country.
He said the programme which was sponsored by the Skills Development Fund is courtesy of the World Bank and the Ministry of Higher and Technical Education. He noted that the entire program focused on empowering young people as well assuring them of becoming meaningful participants in the professional space.
He stated that the Ultimate Entrepreneur Course targeted two tracks especially by coaching these young people of becoming business oriented initiators and serving as productive professionals in the corporate world, as well adding values to the business ecosystem in the country.
“I am so much proud to be the pioneer of this course because it is a matter of me giving back to my country,’’ Alpha Habib Bangura said.
He disclosed that seven out of the 27 students had gained full employment that would enable them to scale the life of their families, and loved ones.
He noted that the training has a direct implication as a form of contribution to the national development plan of the Government of Sierra Leone.
Alpha Habib Bangura affirmed that these 58 grandaunts would create jobs for themselves in various pitches and some would occupy many professional sectors in the country. He implored government to keep supporting young people.
Tapsiru Alieu Sesay, one of the grandaunts expressed his gratification for the platform provided in terms of streamlining a successful business ideal, also maintaining that it is a business that would become a global and competitive brand.
‘‘All I have ever wanted to do with my business is to scale it to a level where it can make a national and international impacts,’’ he said.
Fatmata Annie Turay, a grandaunt said the six months mentorship-training program enabled her to be a problem-solving actor through the skills impacted in them, adding that with what she had gained, she would improve her business and help others in pursuing different business aspirations.
Alieu Sesay, one of the beneficiaries extended his appreciation to the key players who had made their six months journey in cropping affordable business ideas a successful one. He said the training had created massive impact in his life. ‘‘This is the first time for me to know about pitching a business, so I have learnt a lots and am now thinking as a job creator rather than a job seeker,’’ he said.
He urged the youthful population to tap into different skills, as it would consolidate their livelihood.
