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UNN Begins Innovative Forum To Reduce Graduate Unemployment
The University of Nigeria (UNN) Technology Advancement Programme (UNTAP), yesterday began an innovative forum to address the increasing number of unemployable graduates in the country.
The Tide’s correspondent reports that the forum tagged “UNTAP Innovative Forum” is aimed at encouraging students to present their innovative skills before some captains of industry for sponsorship.
The event held at the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (UNEC), has the theme “Presentation of Innovative Idea from Creative Forum”.
Our correspondent reports that eight students were selected to present their innovative works before the captains of industries and prospective sponsors.
Speaking at the event, the Director of UNTAP, Prof. Geraldine Ugwuonah, said the forum was aimed at harvesting talent from the young people and lecturers from the university.
She said the university had identified increasing number of unemployable graduates due to their ill-equipped and ill-prepared for life and work and decided to change the narrative.
Ugwuonah, a Professor of Marketing at the University, said the event was its maiden outing to create awareness for a wider community.
According to Ugwuonah, a lot of students have ideas lying idle inside them but lack mentoring and sponsorship.
“I work with my team members to identify and work towards realising these innovative ideas in them.
“We have listened to them before as we started since February and we try to fine tune some of the ideas they had by putting them into perspective.
“Those that participated in the presentation will be our ambassadors. We brought people who are from industries to hear them out and support them,” she said.
She added that through UNTAP they had linked so many others to sponsors, adding that the university was planning a bigger event to gather the students to listen and learn how to develop their ideas.
Also speaking, the Manager of UNTAP, Dr Chinedum Aranotu, said the centre started in 2015 to help student inventors to initiate ideas and take up to the next level.
He said that they took the students through different processes that included coaching, mentoring and sponsoring.
“Aaron Esumeh, the Chief Executive officer of Greenage Technologies was my first product and today, they are building the biggest inverter battery in Nigeria through funded agencies in USA and Europe.
“The investors are here to support them and after prototype, we start taking them round. We will keep encouraging them, taking their products to different levels until they see people that buy into the ideas,” he said.
An investor and owner of Bon Sunshine Hotel in Enugu, Mr Emeka Nwandu, expressed satisfaction with the presentations by the participants and pledged to assist those who focused on renewable energy.
He commended UNTAP for the initiative which he said would go a long way in reducing unemployment in the country.
Sharing his experience, Esumeh, who manufactures solar equivalent inverters and charge controllers in Enugu, said they started from a programme like UNTAP until help came their way.
While encouraging them never to give up, he pledged to support the winner of the presentation, Victory Wellington with N1.5 million to develop his project.
Responding, Wellington, a 100 level student of Civil Engineering, UNN, presenting his innovation on Renewal Energy, said the constant epileptic power supply in Nigeria pushed him and his team into it.
He said that with support from sponsors, the team would produce consistent and cheapest alternating power supply for firms and households in the country.
The highlight of the event was the award of N100, 000 cash prize to Wellington who emerged first and N50, 000 to Samuel Ojile that came second with a presentation on Revamping Education.
The other six participants received N20, 000 each as consolation prizes.
The Organised Labour yesterday, called on the Federal Government to ensure inclusiveness in policy making and guide against erosion of rights, such as free speech and association.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero made the call at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja.
The Tide source reports Ajaero and the President, Trade Union Congress, Mr Festus Osifo delivered a joint statement on behalf of the organised labour at the event.
Ajaero described May Day as, not only a moment to honour workers’ sacrifices, but also a platform to demand justice and accountability from those in public office.
He frowned at the alleged suppression of protests, and the erosion of rights of workers by some agents
According to him, workers have a duty to resist economic injustice, insecurity, and policies that undermine their dignity.
Speaking on the theme of the day, the NLC President underscored the need for Nigerian workers to reclaim the civic space and resist policies that contribute to worsening economic conditions.
“Our theme this year – “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship – reflects the urgent need for citizens to protect democracy and push back against repression.
“The civic space, where Nigerians express their concerns and challenge injustices is shrinking.
“If we fail to reclaim this space, the foundation of our democracy risks collapse,” he said
Ajaero, therefore, urged workers to unite and resist division, fear, and despair.
He also urged them to mobilise and organise for change, declaring that the right to demand better conditions is non-negotiable.
“Without workers, there is no society; without labour, there is no development. We must take our place in the fight for economic justice and democratic governance.”
Speaking in the same veins, Osifo said workers are the backbone of the nation—the educators, healthcare providers, builders, farmers, and innovators who sustain its economy -.
He stressed the need for the labour to reclaim the civic space even in the midst of economic hardship.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disassociated itself from a fraudulent site requesting payments from candidates who missed the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board said that the site, “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw” and account number 8520641017 at Sterling Bank, associated with it, are scam.
The disclaimer is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin said the account is being exploited to defraud unsuspecting candidates who missed their UTME.
“We issue this urgent notice to inform the public about this nefarious scheme targeting candidates who were unable to participate in the UTME.
“Some unscrupulous individuals are deceitfully soliciting payments of N15,700 under the false pretence of offering rescheduling services for the examination.
“Let us be unequivocal: this, it is a blatant scam, and we are confident that the public will not fall prey to such cheap and regressive tactics.
” The individuals behind this scam have no affiliation with JAMB or any legitimate government agency.
“The account details provided in these communications are entirely fictitious and bear no connection to any official processes; they exist solely for the purpose of perpetrating fraud,” he said.
Benjamin called on Sterling bank to take immediate and decisive action against this criminal activity.
According to him, JAMB has reported the matter to the relevant security agencies and actively pursuing those responsible for this deceitful act.
He further said that “JAMB does not reschedule examinations for candidates who miss their scheduled tests due to reasons unrelated to the Board’s actions”.
He, however, said that the Board is conducting a thorough investigation for candidates whose biometrics failed during verification and were thus unable to sit for the examination.
He said those without discrepancies would be invited to retake the examination at no cost , stressing that “no cost is required”
“It is imperative to understand that JAMB does not charge any fees for examinations after a candidate has completed their registration.
“We strongly urge all candidates to remain vigilant and not to succumb to these fraudulent schemes.
“Protect yourselves and report any suspicious activity immediately,” he explained.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to partner with the United Nations (UN) to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region.
Dr Samual Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made the appeal in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on yesterday.
According to the statement, Ogbuku sought the UN’s support during his visit to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UNRHC), Mr Mohammed Fall, at the UN regional office in Abuja.
He called on the global body to provide the NDDC with technical assistance and expert services to support the region’s development.
“We are eager to collaborate with the UN, recognising that the state governments in the region and the NDDC alone cannot achieve the level of regional development required,” he said.
Ogbuku identified key areas where support would be needed, including the provision of portable and affordable drinking water powered by high-tech solar energy sources.
He also highlighted the importance of reforesting the mangrove swamps, which have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“Although the NDDC has made progress in providing solar-powered streetlights across the region, we still require UN support in delivering solar energy solutions for residential buildings.
“We also wish to explore the possibility of installing solar mini-grids in homes across communities, which would boost local commerce and trade,” he added.
The NDDC managing director further appealed for increased UN involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, youth training, gender development, and food security.
Ogunku stated that such interventions would significantly enhance the standard of living in the region.
In response, Fall affirmed the UN’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC to fast track development in the Niger Delta.
He assured that the UN would support initiatives in food security, job creation, education, and renewable energy, among other areas.
“We aim to approach development in the Niger Delta holistically, rather than focusing solely on environmental pollution.
“This is merely an entry point; however, the UN’s development vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to positively impact various aspects of people’s lives,” Fall stated.
He assured the NDDC of continued and fruitful engagements to drive the region’s development.