More experts in labour-related matters are required in Nigeria’s workforce in order to boost workers’ welfare and engender industrial peace, Issa Aremu, Director General of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Ilorin, has said.
Aremu spoke yesterday in Ilorin at the maiden convocation degree-awarding ceremony of the institute, during which 20 students were awarded Bachelor of Science Degrees in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management. MINILS is affiliated with the University of Ilorin.
According to the MINILS boss, “An aspect of democracy that we need mostly in Nigeria today is in the area of having more experts in the field of labour, especially in personnel management. Any nation that has an abundance of these experts will enjoy harmonious relationships between her workforce and the strata of governments.
“We thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for bridging these gaps through MINILS. We equally thank the Management of the University of Ilorin, under the able leadership of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Wahab Egbewole, for making this affiliation a huge success,” he said.
Aremu, who disclosed that the students had undergone rigorous mentorship and learning procedures, added that the graduands could compete with their colleagues anywhere in the world and make the much-needed changes in the labour sector. He enjoined them to imbibe integrity and uphold honesty in all their endeavours.
He commended the University of Ilorin for the seamless collaboration with MINILS, as he canvassed for more partnerships in the area of churning out expected benefits for the students of the institute.
Speaking at the event, Egbewole, SAN, the Vice Chancellor, described the students’ graduation as a feat and an accomplishment worthy of celebration.
Egbewole, who was represented by Prof. Yahaya Imam, the Director of the Centre for Affiliated Institutions of the University, pointed out that education would never play second fiddle to any other known human pursuit.
He opined, “It is our expectation that you will carry this knowledge with you all over the world, contribute and impact the world positively.”
He urged the graduands to be innovative and use their acquired knowledge in overcoming challenges of life.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Coordinator of the Academic Programme, MINILS, Dr. Sylvanus Adamade, stated that 20 out of the 33 pioneer set of students graduated.
“According to the approved results of the Senate of the University of Ilorin, 10 of the graduated first set of students had Second Class Upper Division grade, and 10 had Second Class Lower Division grade.
“All 20 graduated students were successfully enrolled for the mandatory National Youth Service Corps exercise for the year 2025,” he said.
He believed that the programme would continue to support the labour expert needs of Nigeria in particular and that of the West Sub-region.
The Kwara State Controller of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr. Orodiran Bolarin, advised the graduands to see their academic successes not as personal achievements but as contributions needed for the growth of the Nigerian economy.
Bolarin, who represented the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, said that challenges are inevitable in life but urged the graduands to develop resilience to surmount them.
In their separate reactions, the two graduands with the highest scores, Miss Funmilayo Aina and Sidiqat Ahmed, attributed their successes to the commitment of the lecturers and the management of MINILS.
The epoch-making convocation was attended by some labour leaders, stakeholders in industrial and labour relations, and the immediate past DG of the institute, Alhaji Ishiaq Alabi, among others.
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