BY IKENNA ASOMBA

The Rector, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos, Dr. Kudi Ladipo has urged new students of the college to embrace the compulsory Entrepreneurial Studies, as well as the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) studies offered by all students during their study year.

According to him, it is the college’s resolve to produce self-reliant entrepreneurs and employers of labour, rather than job seekers.

Speaking at 2013/2014 Matriculation, where no fewer than 4, 907 Higher National Diploma and National Diploma students were matriculated, Ladipo, who was represented by the Deputy Rector (Academic), Mr. Innocent Akhuemonkhan, said: “It is imperative that we recognise that the primary purpose of your enrollment in this college is to acquire high quality education. Therefore, you must aim at academic and professional excellence in your respective disciplines. To achieve this, you should dedicate yourselves to consistent study, regular attendance of lectures, practical classes and tutorials, as well as optimum use of the library and other learning facilities.

“The college has some compulsory courses which must be taken by all students throughout their stay in the college. One of these is Entrepreneurial Studies which trains you from your first day in school on how to be self-reliant. It is expected that by the time you graduate, you would have acquired the necessary skills to be an entrepreneur and an employer of labour rather than just job seekers.

“It is also worthy of note that this college is the first higher institution in Nigeria to establish a full-fledged Centre for Entrepreneurship Development, with strong linkages with the world of commerce and industry,” adding that “another compulsory course is Information and Communication Technology (ICT) studies which enables you to be proficient in the use of computer and other ICT tools.”

The don who noted that the 4,907 candidates admitted in the college’s seven schools of Art, Design and Printing, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Management and Business Studies, School of Science and Mathematics, Technology and Liberal Studies, was a far cry from the over 110, 000 candidates that applied to the college as the more preferred institution, however re-affirmed that “in line with the Federal Government’s direction and our resolve at improving access to education, we have made concerted effort to improve our carrying capacity through the construction of more structures that will provide additional sitting space for our students.