A Veteran Broadcaster, Mr. Tony Abolo has said that “Nigeria will not always be this disorganized, disorderly, without integration and national cohesion. Those who want to be relevant must acquire new skills that would be required to enable them fit in.”
Abolo made this assertion as the guest lecturer at the One Day Public Lecture and Award ceremony of the 2022, Auchi Polytechnic Alumni Association (APAA) Benin Branch Week.
He noted that the kind of economy that is coming and envisaged in a functioning new Nigeria, Nigerians must acquire and develop new skills that would be varied, technologically driven, applicable and demanded globally.
Delivering his Keynote address, the Rector of St. Paul Minor Seminary, Benin-City, Rev. Fr. Paschal Omono noted that Nigeria is blessed with talented youths, whose skills remained untapped and unharnessed.
According to the clergy, “Government effort towards using skill acquisition as a potential factor for national development seems to remain a paper work and a mere apolitical statement, not backed up with adequate action and policy framework.”
He urged Government to embark on deliberate policy framework on skill acquisition as a tool for personal growth, economic expansion and national development while calling on Parents and Guardians to encourage their wards to get a skill even while they are schooling or during vacations.
Earlier in his welcome address, the President of APAA Benin Chapter, Builder Osa. Nosa-Odia, said theme for this year APAA Week is unique because, the new world order does not appreciate graduates without extra skills.
He said Nigeria as a nation must continue to develop in order to be able to meet up with her challenges.
The high point of the event was the presentation of awards to some deserving alumni. The Awardees are: Rev. J. Omoregie, Surveyor Anthony Ekhator, Builder Sunday Ononfa, and Pastor Princewill Aimienoho.
The theme for the 2022 APAA Benin Chapter Week was: SKILL ACQUISITION; A Panacea for National Development.