Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has approved funds for the accreditation of courses run by the Nigerian Korea Friendship Institute in Lokoja.
The state commissioner for education, science and technology, Wemi Jones, made the disclosure at the opening of a youth empowerment training programme in Kabba, Kabba Bunu local government area.
The five-day programme is organised by BIKY Club and Scafound School Age Foundation. It aims at training secondary school students drawn from selected public secondary schools in Okunland.
The participants are expected to acquire entrepreneurship knowledge, with skills in digital marketing, make-up, dressing and catering services.
Mr. Jones urged the students to take the training very seriously, pointing out that the state government is changing the focus of education from the usual to the unusual, using the study of Science, Technical, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
The commissioner said towards ensuring the study of STEM, the state government has built GYB Model Science Secondary Schools across the State.
He said nine GYB Model Science Secondary Schools are at different stages of completion, pointing out that the intention is for graduates from secondary schools to have skills after graduation.
Jones said the state government is spending huge amounts of money on technical and vocational training centres in the State, and added that with the fund approved for the accreditation of courses at NKFI graduates from the institution would no longer seek white collar jobs.
He maintained that the intention of the state government is for graduates from the state on graduation become self-sustaining.
The commissioner said the challenges of securing admission by indigenes of the State seeking admission is now a thing of the past with the establishment of the Kogi State University in Kabba, alongside the Confluence University of Science and Technology Osara.
He added that by September, KSU Kabba will start admission, and by October, the first set of students would undergo matriculation. He praised the efforts of Governor Bello for making education a priority.
