As part of its short course programs that commenced two years ago to train the country’s middle-level manpower, the Milton Margai Technical University (MMTU) on Thursday 4th July 2024 graduated 56 people in Masonry, Block and Brick Laying.
The auspicious certification ceremony for trainees in Masonry, Block and Brick Laying, held at the Congo Cross campus in Freetown, was supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in partnership with the Ministry of Youth Affairs.
The Director of Short Courses at MMTU, Mr. Papa Njai revealed that as a Technical University, they are supposed to solve societal problems which they have been doing for the past two years and that this is the largest group of trainees that have graduated.
He went on to inform that the Congo Cross campus has one of the best engineering facilities to train people in addition to auto mechanic and electrical facilities adding that they also offer courses in carpentry, plumbing, air-conditioning, baking and confectionery, fashion and tailoring and that recently they trained staff of Mercy Ships in some of the disciplines for which he appealed to partners to support the institution by making use of its facilities.
The UNDP Representative, Mr. Frank Appia recalled that some of the trainees who underwent a similar program in Ghana went on to establish some of the biggest companies in that country, that others secured jobs in companies while others went on universities, that he is delighted that 30% of the trainees are women, urged them to forge their own destiny, noted that the course was intense and that they need the knowledge and skills as well as the right attitude in life to succeed.
He also stressed that attendance and results are key in any learning institution and that the certificate is of value noting that other trainees did not complete the course and urged them to share their skills with others.
Mr. Frank Appia went on to articulate that UNDP is committed to working with youths as well as explore other areas of support, that the program is innovative and implored the trainees to count themselves lucky adding that they must think of establishing construction businesses.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Mr. Morrison Gboyoh underscored the importance of the ceremony and recalled 6th June this year when the course commenced.
The Minister of Youth Affairs (MoYA), Mr. Mohamed Orman Bangura commended the UNDP for its invaluable support to the Ministry since his appointment in 2018, reiterated that it has been UNDP support all the way citing the 70 fishing boats that have transformed the lives of the beneficiaries, provision of 200 ‘kekehs’ at Le81 million each all of which he described as legacies and disclosed that the loan recovery rate is 100%.
According to the Minister, this year, the UNDP has also supported 200 youths in farming and that 80 females are currently undergoing training in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) at the Military Academy.
Mr. Mohamed Orman Bangura furthered that the UNDP has also provided a grant of $2 million and 191 brand new motorbikes for all chiefdoms in the country as well as supported the carwash project and the establishment of the National Youth Scheme in addition to constructing and equipping a training center in Waterloo.
The Chief Technical Adviser in the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Josephus Brima underscored that the Ministry believes in technical education to facilitate national development, that Sierra Leone has had university education for nearly 200 years but noted that the trainees are the most brilliant and advised them to be willing to work as knowledge is power.
He went on to state that the certification ceremony is the beginning and that the future of the country is in their hands.
Dr. Gogra of MMTU observed that the trainees journeyed under very difficult circumstances and the Ministry if pivotal in the entire process reiterating that the country is in dire need of middle-level manpower adding that others would look at them as motivators.
Earlier, Ahmed Koroma who introduced the chairperson for the event revealed that the day is to celebrate the achievements of the trainees for the journey they went through starting with a small step, that the basic skills they have acquired is for them to excel in a rewarding field and appealed to them to use the skills acquired to master the craft.
Highlights of the ceremony were the presentation of certificates to the trainees by the UNDP Representative, the Head of Department at MMTU, the Dean of the Congo Cross Campus respectively while the vote of thanks was rendered by Ramatu Dumbuya, one of the trainees who commended especially UNDP for the opportunity to empower them.
