Published: 07 Jul 2017 Source: University Relations Office (URO)
Professor Joshua Ayarkwa, Provost, College of Art and Built Environment
As part of the university’s efforts to contribute to job creation in order to reduce unemployment, the Department of Industrial Art has submitted a concept note to the Ministry of Trade and Industry for skills training to support government’s manpower development for job creation and youth employment agenda. Professor Joshua Ayarkwa, Provost of the College of Art and Built Environment, made this known at the 51st Congregation Ceremony of the College. Professor Ayarkwa further indicated that he hoped the youth would take advantage of it when implemented to acquire the necessary skills and be self-employed.
Citing the 2016 World Bank Survey, he explained that it was estimated that 250,000 young men and women enter the Ghanaian labour market every year with only 2% getting absorbed into the formal sector while the 98% seek employment in the informal sector or remain unemployed.
The Provost said it was in this light that (CABE) had numerous programmes which are designed to create employable opportunities. “Programmes in our Faculties are designed to address the issue of unemployment through its skills acquisition training in support of manpower development to enable graduates to set up their own businesses and to employ others,” he added.
He called for collaborative effort from all stakeholders especially formal and informal training institutions in both the public and private sectors to be adequately resourced, empowered and motivated to come on board to help tackle the problem head-on.
Honourable Patricia Apppiagyei, Deputy Minister of Environment, Science and Technology
In a related development, the Deputy Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Honourable Patricia Apppiagyei, in her motivational speech, cautioned graduands that their development in life would come from their choices and actions. The honourable minister also challenged them not to look solely to government for employment but to utilize the abundant skills and knowledge obtained to solve societal problems.
Hon. Patricia Appiagyei, who is also an alumnus and a Member of Parlaiment for the Asokwa Constituency, further advised the graduands that the challenges in life were real and they should use their hands and brains to work in order to earn a living. She continued that the degrees they had acquired were means to an end and they must work hard and never find any job demeaning.
This year, the College is graduating 1,231 undergraduate students from the Faculty of Art and the Faculty of Built Environment. Out of this number, 814 are males and 417 are females.
One hundred and thirty five (135) students had First Class as compared to last year when seventy (70) students obtained first class, 779 students had Second Class Upper, 293 students had Second Class Lower, and 24 students had Pass degrees.