Lydia Alhassan Launches ‘Grab A Skill’ Training Program For Students

The Member of Parliament for the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency in the Greater Accra region, Lydia Seyram Alhassan has launched an ambitious skills training programme aimed at equipping students in tertiary institutions with hands-on employable skills as they pursue their academic goals.

A total of 125 selected tertiary students out of over 600 from schools within the constituency who registered will benefit from the initial skills training programme for a three months period during the vacation period from February through to May, 2024.

Most of the beneficiary students who are in the second and third year of their tertiary education will receive both theory and pratical training in Fashion and design, graphic design, digital marketing, 3D signage making and branding, photo and videography and content creation.

They are also expected to be equipped with make-up, and entrepreneurship skills to enable them formalise their businesses from the scratch and empower them with knowledge on business registration processes among others.

Speaking at the launch of the skills acquisition programme dubbed: Maa Lydia’s Grab A Skill Program, Hon Lydia Seyram Alhassan who is also the first deputy Majority Whip in Ghana’s parliament underscored the value of skills acquistion which she described as an indispensable tool in today’s competitive global job market.

She noted that, acquring a degree alone was not enough and expressed excitment at the willingness of the students to gain skills that will enable them enhance their employability.

“We all know that, the degree that we have is not enough to take us to the job market. This is not happeninng only here in Ghana, it is actually happenning across the globe. That is why I am particularly excited that you have signed-up by yourselves to have something extra.

We are here to learn, we are here to get our degree, do our academic work, but we have also realised the need in adding something to enhance our chances on the job market, and I am excited that, over 600 of you actually signed-on to the programme”, Hon Alhassan stated.

Maa Lydia as she is affectionately called by all said she is determined to help young people who are in school learning for degree to also gain pratical skills for side hustles whiles on campus and to enhance their chances of being employed or starting-up bussinesses for themselves after school.

Hon Seyram Alhassan obsereved that the fashion industry alone is paying huge in Ghana and encouraged the students to take advantage of the avenue she is providing and acquire a skill for themselves whiles in school to cater for their basic needs.

She acknowleded that the students are in school first and foremost to acquire a degree but was quick to say that “these little things, you dont know where it can take you” whiles urging them to strive to help themselves saying “you dont have to depend on your parents once you are in the university”.

The MP charged the students to aspire to become great business leaders and global brands and champions beyond the borders of Ghana and Africa.

The lawmaker expressed optimism of increasing the intake in subsequent cohorts to provide opportunity for more students to acquire skills whiles in school.

Chief Executive Officer of Unik School of Art and Design, the partner organisation that will be providing the training, Mustapha Mohammed assured of the readiness of his outfit to impact the students with the requisite skills over the three months period.

Mr Mustapha Mohammed, a former student of the uiniversity of Ghana encouraged the students to show greater commitment in order to derive maximum benefit for their own enrichment.

Mr Philip Gyamfi of the University of Ghana (UG) @ 75 Secretariat commended Hon Lydia Seyram Alhassan for her desire to help young people acquire skills as they prepare for the future.
According to him, the Grab A Skill initiative of the MP is in total sink with the vision of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo who recently launched the university’s internship programme to prepare students for the job market.

Mr Gyamfi who is the Executive Chairman of the Ghana International Model United Nation (GIMUN) also admonished the beneficiary students to make maxumum use of the skills training programme which has been fully sponsored by the MP.

He emphasised that it costs a whopping Ghc 63,000 for one to pursue a diploma in fashion and design alone hence the need for the students grab the moment.
Mr Gyamfi also encouraged the students to eschew all forms of indiscipline, take full advantage of the programme which puts them a notch ahead of their colleagues and become ambassadors in the next academic year.

The various instructors took turns to highlight what is in stock for the stidents when the course begins.

The beneficiary students were selected from tertiary instititions including,University of Ghana, legon, Accra College of Education within the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency.

By: Christian Kpesese/www.eagleghana.com