Venture into own businesses – Dr Bawumia to graduates

Employment opportunities still exist in the public sector for graduates, the Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has said.

However, he has advised graduates to venture into entrepreneurship, where they can develop their own businesses to enable them to build a sound future for themselves and also contribute to the development of the country.

Dr Bawumia gave the advice in a speech read on his behalf by a Deputy Minister of Education, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, at the 13th congregation of the University of Mines And Technology (UMaT) in Tarkwa last Saturday.

While saying the public sector would not shut its doors to graduates, the Vice-President said it was important for them to know that there was much to gain from setting up their own businesses.

“Not only are you expected to be working in the public sector; you are equally expected to be drivers of the private sector. Some of you should start planning to begin your own businesses with knowledge gained from the training you have received, and possibly employ others,” he said.

Skills not grades
The role of the new graduates in the private sector, he said, would be instrumental to the growth of the country, and reminded them that as fresh graduates, they should know that grades and academic scores might not matter after school.

“You should develop such positive traits as hard work, honesty, dedication, trustworthiness and humility,” he told them.

He further told them that as they stepped out into the world of work, they should take advantage of all opportunities that would come their way and position themselves to be relevant to society.

Leadership
As a government, he said, “we have absolute confidence in the current leadership of the university to spur the needed efforts for the development of the university”.

Dr Bawumia said aside from the UMaT’s immense contribution to Mining, Petroleum and related engineering education in the country, the university had lived up to its core mandate of training mining engineers for Ghana and the world at large.

He said it was heartwarming that UMaT graduates served in various distinguished capacities in the mining and allied industries all over the world.

He said it was heartwarming that the university was promoting sustainable artisanal and small-scale mining through various engagements with stakeholders, especially small-scale miners, which would help protect the environment and water bodies.

The government, he said, was in support of such moves because they presented a direct link to the President’s vision on the fight against illegal mining in the country.

Impact of Free-SHS
On increased enrolment in the university, Dr Bawumia said the government was aware of the impact of the introduction of free SHS education on tertiary educational institutions, such as the UMaT.

“The UMaT has to deal with the surge in enrolment and the attendant challenges. Through the relevant ministries and agencies, the government will continue to address infrastructural and logistic challenges that the university faces,” he said.

Source: Graphic online