The Joint Campus Council (JCC), Kwara State Axis of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Wednesday hosted a vocational training workshop dubbed “Skill Fest” in a strategic move to equip students with alternative livelihoods.
The event, themed “Skill for Self-Reliance,” which held at Flower Garden drew a large crowd of students eager to bridge the gap between academic certificates and practical entrepreneurship.
Speaking during the opening session, the General Secretary of NANS JCC Kwara, Comrade Abdulkadri Alasa, delivered a blunt reality check to the participants emphasizing that in a competitive job market often dominated by slots and connections, self-reliance is the only guarantee against future hardship.
“We all go to school to study, but at the end of the day, they use slots to give jobs to their choice of people. If we learn these skills now, we will not suffer in the future. Let us put our mindsets to this; it is for our progress.”, Alasa added.
The workshop focuses on high-demand, low-capital crafts that students can start while still on campus as captured below
Mobile Photography & Content Creation: which help students monetize the “digital age.”
Gele Tying: Mastering the art of traditional headgear for the booming events industry and Henna Tattoo (Laali): Specialized beauty artistry.
On his part, Comrade Adebayo Kayode Joshua, Admin of KCDI, commended the chief host for investing personal resources into student development urging the students to focus on branding and customer relations to turn these crafts into profitable businesses.
“These skills won’t affect your educational career. They are profitable depending on how you brand yourself, He said.
Comrade Kayode advised the organizers not stop at this edition, urging them to send invitation letters to different schools across Kwara and make it a recurring event.
One of the facilitator and CEO of Meenah Beauty Empire, Olarewaju Aminat Damilola shared her journey, reminding students that every successful entrepreneur started as an apprentice.
She encouraged the beneficiaries to consistently choose their struggle to enjoy a suitable result in the future.
The event had in attendance notable Students Union Leaders, Comrades including Hon Saiq, among others who graced the maiden Edition.
