CAPTION:_ A cross-section of the participants of the Skill Up training
programme_
In a bid to promote SDG 8 for decent work and economic
growth, Nigerian lender, Unity Bank Plc is collaborating with Kitian
Training Hub, an Ibadan-based career advice and skills acquisition training
centre to empower no fewer than 300 youths from Oyo State with different
knowledge and skills designed to better equip beneficiaries to make career
advancement.
With the intervention, the Bank is providing support for sponsoring the
youth training programme at the Kitian Training Hub set up to facilitate
technical and vocational courses and thus drive digital skills acquisition
among Nigerian youths and prepare them for job opportunities in the
bourgeoning technology sector.
The fully-funded, “Skill Up” training programme focused on both digital and
non-digital skills training, including graphics design, web design, UI/UX
design, fashion design, domestic electrical installations, MS Word suite
and data analytics.
This partnership further underscores the Bank’s ongoing commitment to
boosting capacity for the digital economy through strategic digital skills
training programmes and empowering the youths to acquire critical skills
required to play an active part in the thriving digital economy.
Recall that the Bank earlier this year collaborated with Alternate School
Africa, a software training school in Lagos, as part of activities to
celebrate International Women’s Day and empower young female engineers
looking to acquire core software development skills and pursue a career in
the information technology sector.
To enrich the content of the Kitian Training Hub “Skill Up” programme, the
Bank anchored training on financial intelligence and business development
for the beneficiaries, thereby preparing them for a life of
entrepreneurship through the training.
Unity Bank’s Head of Retail & SME Banking, Dr. Opeyemi Ojesina who anchored
the session exposed the students to the rudiments of managing and growing
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
CAPTION: _From left: Mr Adekunle Rafiu, General Manager, Kitian Training
Hub; Hon. Victor Olojede, Special Assistant to the Executive Governor of
Oyo State on Students’ Affairs; Mrs Taiwo Oshunniyi, CEO, Kitian Training
Hub and Dr. Opeyemi Ojesina, Head, Retail & SME Banking, Unity Bank Plc at
the opening ceremony to kick off the Skill Up training programme in Ibadan
recently._
In his further assessment of the collaborative initiative, Dr. Ojesina was
satisfied with the content of the programme which according to him is not
only scenario-based learning but also a well-packaged delivery style
effective to close the gap between theory and practical; adding: “it will
change the mindset of participants to easily take on the next big thing in
their lives”.
“The Bank recognises that technology and innovation form the bedrock of the
workforce that can take on the future, which is why we keep collaborating
with relevant institutions that are moving in this direction” Mr Opeyemi
quips.
Dr. Opeyemi Ojesina anchoring the financial intelligence session
“If you look at Unity Bank’s strategic initiatives and collaborations over
the past few years, from corpreneurship, which is for fresh graduates; to a
partnership on building capacity in the blue economy, and then to the most
recent partnership with Alternate School Africa for female software
engineers, you would realise the pattern of the Bank’s intervention and
commitment to the society, especially to the youths: that buttresses what
the Bank stands for.”
The Chief Executive Officer of Kitian Training Hub, Mrs Taiwo Oshunniyi,
commended the Bank for the partnership, stating that the partnership has
helped the Hub to meet its objective of closing the widening skill gap
within the economy.
Oshunniyi said, “We appreciate all our partners, especially Unity Bank Plc.
The training should fill some unemployment gaps. Some of our students
picked courses in which they already have an interest, and with the
knowledge, they will gain here, they will enhance their skills and even
provide employment for other people.”
