….#Entrepreneurship/ Vocational Training#: Student Leaders Commends NGO, “Been There Foundation” On Support

……As Council of Departmental Presidents Tasks NAU Students On Reading Culture, Hard work, Focus, Vocation, & Success

By Victor Bieni, UNIZIK Awka

As part of efforts towards reducing the high rate of suicide, overcoming the economic hardships in the present day Nigeria, develop key Success stories on Entrepreneurship growth and development amongst undergraduates Student of higher institutions, a reputable International Non-governmental Organization, “Been There Foundation In Partnership With Council of Departmental Presidents, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria on Friday held one day workshop, lectures Students on basic entrepreneurship, different vocational areas, tasks that them on focus, determination, economic and financial success.

The media learnt this on Friday being January 27, 2023 from the Chairman, Council of Departmental Presidents Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State capital, Project 1.0 with the theme: “Surviving The Present Day Nigeria”, held at the Academic Staff Union of The University, ASUU Secretariat as Student Leaders, critical stakeholders on Youths advocacy matters commend development partners, Been There Foundation NGO on support and goodwill.

In a welcome address by the Chairman, Council of Departmental Presidents, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Comr. Chris Ukoh
who appreciated the students for making out time despite their usually busy schedules and pile of academic workload to attend this event as promised the students, that it will be a paradigm contribution to their success if they listen and apply the principles and mentorship that will be given.

The event was powered by the ‘Being there Foundation’ and brought to the students by the Council of Departmental Presidents (CODP, NAU).
According to Comrade Chris Ukoh, the Council of Departmental Presidents is an initiative aimed at bringing every student and the 102 departments across the various campuses of UNIZIK together and complement the roles of the University Management and the Unionist ‘aluta’ survival Spirit of the Students Union Government. CODP is also an interdependent arm of the SUG.

The Chairman CODP, NAU, Comrade Chris Ukoh who spoke to the media soon after the event stated that, “Being there Foundation’ as the sponsor of the program has a vision to assist students and Youths grow their capacities and streams of income so that they can become financially independent and be able to contribute meaningfully to the economic development of the society.

According to him, “The Hope project has saved a lot of lives, helped students to acquire skills and make legitimate money for themselves. This project is driven by the desire to strengthen the weak and restore Hope to the helpless”. Comrade Chris Ukoh, then commended the leadership of “Been There Foundation” NGO and other critical stakeholders for partnering with them in this project to build the mind set of our students towards socio-economic development.

In a separate interview with the CEO of “Been There Foundation”, NGO, Mrs Kassy Nwamara who doubles as the Managing Director of Homeland Group, a real estate Company narrated how she grew her business and rose to the top, while she stated that the event is timely as many students are already down, therefore needs vocational, entrepreneurial, educational, spiritual, emotional, social, economic and financial support to overcome their challenges in this present day Nigeria full of economic hardships.

Mrs Kassy Nwamara commended the entire UNIZIK management, UNIZIK students, for coming out enmass to acquire knowledge and be mentored, and other critical stakeholders on their roles, while she promised to give empowerment, scholarships and other entrepreneurship support for their economic development. She noted that Students had been groomed, given some entrepreneurial skills to be successful and be financially independent.

According to her, “the program is being sponsored with her hard earned money and will be holding in the three Geo-political zones of Southern Nigeria; South East, South- South and South-West”. She then called for collaboration of international communities, donor agencies and other critical stakeholders in Education sector. She also enjoined the students to be focus and choose a vocational area to have financial freedom. She also enjoined their parents and guardians to direct their wards in the right part to success.

In a Separate Interview with The President, Students Union Government, SUG, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Comrade Charles Ijeoma while commending other student leaders for the initiative, the partnership NGO, “Been There Foundation for their goodwill to the students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, he used the medium to encourage the students to cultivate the habit of reading culture, hardwork, focus, determination, which he said summarizes the key to success and better ways of surviving the present day Nigeria.

Also speaking is the Chairman, Council of Faculty Presidents, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Comrade Igbokwe Uche Ebuka who bemoaned the cost of living in the country commended the initiative on building the vocational skills of the students towards their economic empowerment as he urged the students to get a skill, take advantage of the event, apply hardwork, humility, contentment and legitimacy in pursuits of financial freedom.

The Guest speaker at the event who spoke to our reporter soon after the event, Mr. Ikechukwu, An Environmental Construction consultant and Managing Director, MIO Construction Company who groomed the students on real estate business, also encouraged the students to associate with skills, business mentors, people good and greater visions so as to get financial freedom.

Other critical stakeholders that graced the occasion who spoke also includes: Hon. Kingsley Chukwudozie Uyammadu, Young Progressive Party, YPP 2023 Candidate for Awka South & North Federal Constituency seat, has also commended the organizers of the program, Council of Departmental Presidents, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, the partnering NGO, Been There Foundation for supporting the students as stated that all hands must be on deck to make Nigeria great. He added that NAU undergraduates are on the right track to financial freedom. He stated that the issue of entrepreneurship and skill development is in line with his own vision of making Agriculture and vocational Institutions major blueprints to Youths development if elected come this year 2023.

NAU Students, Been There Foundation NGO Staff also commended Initiative and partnership with students. Comrade Judith of Department of Geo-physics & Comrade Joyce Uche of Department of Cooperative Economics & Management, NAU, Awka stated that they have learnt a lot then described event, program as very impactful. A staff of Been There Foundation NGO Mr Frank & Miss Goodness also thanked the students for making out time to attend the workshop while encouraging them to use the knowledge gained during the program to attain financial freedom.

Finally, The Chairman, Council of Departmental Presidents, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Comrade Chris Ukoh commended Mrs Kassy Nwamara, CEO of Been There Foundation NGO, all the resource persons invited to educate and empower the youth/students, Emmanuel Akpe: (Keynote speaker) who spoke on Multiple streams of internet income, Nwachukwu Paulsimon Uwakwe II Esq. (Speaker). Topic: The law and the youth: legalities in Everyday life. Ikechukwu Meshack Odide, Topic: Building a successful business as a student, Nelson Nwamara: (speaker) Topic: Exploring Opportunities in real estate business. Mrs Kassy Nwamara also spoke about the foundation. Scholarships were given to some students, sponsorships were given to students on different vocational and entrepreneur skills and online marketing training, students lives were touched and changed. At the end of the event there was a mantle of leadership handover to the new councils executives leaders that attended workshop preaches unity and cooperation to the new leadership of the Council in the institution to do more for the students.
668 students and counting were recorded in attendance to the event.