Engineer Abdullahi Sule, the Nasarawa State Governor has fulfilled his pledge to grant one million naira each to 33 first-class graduates of Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
Engineer Sule presented a check worth N33 million to the graduates during their graduation ceremony after they underwent a three-week intensive training in agriculture under the AASule Ideation Camp, held in Gora, near Keffi, on Friday.
The training session, organised by Nasarawa State University, Keffi, in collaboration with CSS Group of Companies, provided intensive training in modern agricultural techniques, including mechanised farming, hydroponics, greenhouse farming, and irrigation farming.
It also covered leadership and business development to equip them with the knowledge and skills to become self-employed.
Recall that the Governor, during his attendance at the 7th convocation of the university, announced a cash gift of one million naira for each of the 33 first-class graduates.
As he redeemed his pledge at the end of the AASule Ideation Camp, he described the event as a dream come true, especially since the graduates, who have received training in agriculture, will now use the funds as seed money to start their businesses.
Engineer Sule expressed his appreciation for the university’s innovative approach to providing knowledge and skills to the beneficiaries to make them self-reliant.
He stated, ‘My excitement today is about the level of commitment from the university. When I made the pronouncement, I didn’t know how we were going to do that because all I said was that I wanted to provide you with working capital to start a business. As someone from a business background myself, I wanted to give you something to start with.’
He expressed appreciation that, through collaborative efforts with the CSS Group of Companies, the university was able to impart knowledge and skills to the graduates.
He emphasised the importance of the skills they’ve acquired, stating that it’s not just the money but the skills that matter. He encouraged them to embrace entrepreneurship and become wealth creators.
While noting that the beneficiaries were selected based on merit without regard to tribe, religion, or region, Engineer Sule advised them to explore the opportunities provided by the Nasarawa State Youth Revolving Fund Scheme, which is housed at the Bank of Industry.
In his welcome address, Vice-Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Professor Suleiman Bala Mohammed, specifically thanked Engineer Sule for providing the impetus for the training after announcing the cash gift to 33 first-class graduates of the institution.
Founder and CEO of CSS Group of Companies, Prof. John Kennedy Opara, stated that the purpose of the training was to engage the 33 first-class graduates in agriculture and turn them into wealth creators.
He also commended Engineer Sule for selecting the beneficiaries based on merit and ensuring representation from each of the six geopolitical zones, all to positively impact their lives.
He encouraged the graduates not to enter the labour market but to strive to become wealth creators and employers of labour.
In his remarks, AA Sule Ideation Committee Chairman, Prof. Maikano Ari, expressed gratitude to Governor Sule for allowing the university to impart necessary knowledge and skills to first-class graduates of the state-owned university.
He noted that the current trend is to move away from relying solely on certificates, particularly with the university’s trust in changing the narrative regarding the employability of first-class graduates of NSUK.
Peoplesmind
