Prof. Florence Obi, Vice-Chancellor, University of Calabar, has charged students of the institution to redouble their efforts towards acquisition of requisite industrial skills, with assurance that the world will create employment opportunities for them.
Obi, gave the charge on Tuesday in Calabar during the orientation exercise organised by Directorate of Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), UNICAL, for students embarking on industrial attachment.
She said that SIWES had provided students with a veritable platform to market themselves, adding that acquisition of skills would place them in advantaged positions to secure gainful employment after graduation.
“SIWES is a good thing that has happened to universities. It is a bridge between theory and practice; it has boosted the practical skills of students and make them to be creative and innovative.
“The scheme is one step to getting employment. It is a way to market yourself to employers,’’ she said.
The vice-chancellor, who urged them to be good ambassadors of the institution, stressed that if they were committed and dedicated to the scheme, they would always stand out from the crowd.
The Director of SIWES, Dr Imo Obot, in his welcome address, said that SIWES was established by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in 1973 to prepare students for industrial experience and employment skills.
Obot said the orientation exercise which witnessed official unveiling of the University Online Student’s Industrial Attachment Procedure, would bring a shift from the analogue procedure to the current global standards in centres of teaching and learning.
He said that SIWES would always key into the policy thrust of the current administration in UNICAL, adding that the vice-chancellor’s passion for Information and Communication Technology had given an unprecedented lift to SIWES.
The director expressed delight that students of the university participated in the orientation exercise as a preparation to acquire all benefits of the scheme.
He also solicited for support of relevant stakeholders to offer students the needed support and assistance.
He urged students to dispose themselves positively and holistically in thought, attitude and skills to make good use of the opportunities in the scheme.
Earlier, the Area Manager of ITF, Calabar, Mr Vincent Iyam, said that SIWES was established to generate a pool of indigenous manpower to bridge the skill gap in the country.
Iyam, represented by the Head of Training, ITF, Mr Nwigboji Nwafagu, described the scheme as a veritable tool for national and economic developments.
He charged the students to embrace the scheme, show initiative and drive in all their undertakings. (NAN)
