AT UPGRADE SEMINAR, EXPERTS HARP ON CAPACITY BUILDING FOR NATIONAL GROWTH

LAGOS, Nigeria – Experts at a training seminar organized by Upgrade, a Lagos-based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), have reiterated the need for regular capacity building of the youths, saying it remains the only viable option to foster meaningful national rebirth and growth.

They stated that for Nigeria to truly achieve worthwhile transformation people have always yearn for, there must be concerted efforts aimed at lifting the youths, the class they said constituted the nation’s driving force, out of obscurity and placed them in rightful perspective that is consistent with modern trend.

While speaking at the event held at Waziri Conference Room, Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two, MMA2, Ikeja, Lagos, the Facilitator of the programme and General Manager, Training and Human Resources, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mr. Nath McAbraham-Inajoh, noted that there is urgent need for people, particularly the youth to development strong mind-set against certain wrongly held perceptions that there are no opportunities in the country.

He noted that every nation that developed went through faces, and so Nigeria as a nation is only going through a face. The window, he said is time bound, stressing that the youth must take advantage of it to prepare themselves for life after now.

His words: “While the nation is growing, the youth should not remain stagnant. Develop yourself so that when opportunities come, you will be relevant. At the time Nigeria independence came, if the likes of Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, Dr. Nnamidi Azikwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo among others were not ready, imagine what would have happened? These guys were ready to take the mantle of leadership, and they did not disappoint. They were roundly prepared for the task ahead. That was why they were able to make their mark. Today, in a way, we are still feeling the impact.”

According to him, the Upgrade Seminars are designed to meet the needs of the younger folks in the country free of charge, particularly in the areas of capacity building. He maintained that, “the strength of any country is its human capacity, so when you have an under developed human capacity, then you are under developed.

This is a country where a whole lot of young people are ignorant about skills that will help them excel in their careers, businesses, and in their personal life. Some of this thing I teach at seminars for consulting firms at a fee, and I said to myself I can do same for the teeming youths who are eager to make meaningful impact in our world today at no fee. So, it is our own way of giving back to the society and fortunately, other agencies are working with us, with a view to take our coverage area beyond Lagos and elsewhere.

“The question is are the youths ready? Government alone cannot do it all. So, people who have benefited from the govt should look inward, and give back to the society, while govt provides security, good roads and other social amenities to make the society habitable.”

The Coordinator, Divine Eagle Support Ministry, Mr. Shola Ajide hinted that their ultimate goal is to make Upgrade the biggest free seminar in Nigeria, stating that the young folks should be more intentional about developing themselves. He added that once they have built capacity, they will have that boldness to take certain decisions that will be helpful in the long run, not only to themselves, but also to the country at large.

On her part, Mrs. Abisoye Elemi, an experienced HR Personnel, who underscore the benefit of training and retraining of workers, said Upgrade Seminar has been fantastic so far, adding that the motive selfless and is designed to empower a lot of youths and broaden their horizons.

Mr Olukayode Oke, a Procurement Analyst at Newrest ASL, lauded the initiative of the organizers of the seminar, saying that it will go a long way to boost the knowledge base of the participants.
Some of the participants at the event commended the organizers of the seminars, stating that there are several positives to take away from it.

According to Mr. Ajide, the Upgrade Seminar, which started out as a mini-training programme at the Ajao Estate Family Worship Centre, a branch of Church of God Mission International in 2012, has grown to become a big outing where potential leaders of tomorrow are being moulded. He maintained that the seminar now serves as the church’s Corporate Social Responsibility.

“We’ve been getting supports and commendations from partners; organisations are coming up to offer one or two support to make the vision of the group realizable. We’re grateful to Bi-Courtney Aviation services Limited (BASL), operators of MMA2, for their support; and other organizations as well,” he added.