By Sani Idris
The Africa Skills Knowledge and Innovations Academy (ASKIA) Kaduna, has trained nine students on creative media production (NSQ Level 2).
ASKIA is a licensed Company Limited. It is registered with the Corporate Affairs
Commission (CAC) of Nigeria and has approval from the National Board for Technical
Education (NBTE) as a regulatory board..
The creative media production courses the graduands were trained on are; digital photography, cinematography with video editing, animation (2D and 3D), screenwriting, production and directing.
Others were digital communication and social media, digital media and marketing strategies, and digital arts and calligraphy.
Speaking at the maiden graduation of the students on Sunday in Kaduna, the Centre Manager, Auwal Ibrahim Ahmed, said the graduation is a significant day in the history of Nigerian education and
for Africans in the quest of promoting skill trades.
He said that ASKIA is a not-for-profit
organization that seeks to galvanize African youths into skills
training programs to meet the current challenges facing the
continent within the global framework of “skills, not degrees’ which coincidentally is the slogan of the National Board for
Technical Education (NBTE) in its quest to promote skills, reduce
unemployment and the number of out-of-school children in Africa.
According to him, ASKIA is one of the NBTE executive secretary’s sacrifices, fueled by his passion for helping Nigerians for the
development of Africa.
“The the NBTE’s ES quest to reposition the informal sector and certify our informal artisans for global opportunities, the Nigerian government recognizes NSQ as a national certificate,”he said.
Describing skill as a global currency, Auwal said “When people are equipped with skills, they can work in any part of the world. ASKIA is striving to reduce unemployment, out-of-school children, and redundancy, all of which have negative effects on Africans and our dear Nigeria and Kaduna state.
He, therefore, said ASKIA would help in reducing the troublesome
problems of banditry and other inhuman activities caused by joblessness.
He explained that the academy began with a creative media production courses, offering opportunities to
graduates with the ethics, laws and standards of using social media to project the good image of Africa, generate income for themselves and for the ecosystem of the
continent.
“The ASKIA training programs are tailored to fit the Nigerian Skills Qualification
Framework (NSQF) which has equivalence across the globe.
“Meanwhile, ASKIA
Academy has adapted the NSQF pending the time a continental framework is
available, as some courses will attract international certification for wider global acceptability,” he said.
The Centre Manager disclosed that ASKIA plans to establish centers across the African continent, with
headquarters in Kaduna state.
He said the centers would be of global standard to equip
African youths with skills.
“These efforts are all intended for the progress of the
people and the growth of Africa”.
Auwal seeks intervention from across the globe to drive the up-skilling
of Africans and reverse the current trend of illegal migration across the Sahara, which exposes African youths to greater dangers and depletes Africa of its vital human resources.
He acknowledge the guidance ASKIA received from the awarding body,
Skills Nigeria Limited (SNL) Kaduna, and their patience in assessment of the trainees.
In a remark, the NBTE’s ES, Prof. Idris Bugaje who doubles as the chairman of ASKIA, stressed the importance of skills in the contemporary world.
Bugaje said skills are the contemporary global currency of labour.
He noted that properly certified skills
greatly enhance employability.
The ES said that African youths must
embrace the paradigm shift and get up-skilled.
“ASKIA is a modest effort to empower African youths with skills to prepare them for the formidable
challenges of the modern world.
“Crossing the Sahara
and the oceans to Europe against all odds is no longer an option. Let our youths acquire skills and the outside
world will welcome them with red carpets,”he said.
Bugaje therefore said graduation of the nine students who are the first set of leaners on creative media production (NSQ Level 2) is a major milestone that needs to be celebrated.
He commended Governor Uba Sani for setting up skills centres across Kaduna state, adding that it would go along way in bridging the skills gap in the state and Nigeria in general.
Also, the Chairman of skills Nigeria, Engr. Abba Dawakinkudu, said it is essential to strike a balance between skills training and education that fosters creativity, critical thinking, and adaptability.
Dawakinkudu congratulated the graduands on their achievement, urging them to continue developing their skills and adapting to the ever-changing demands of the Industries.
He also commended ASKIA and its partners for their efforts in promoting skills training and education in Kaduna State.
One of the graduand, Sadiya Yakubu, said
“I am overwhelmed with joy and gratitude as I receive my certificate. The training at ASKIA am sure will be life-changing, it will equip me with the skills and confidence to pursue my passion in digital media.
“I am excited and anxious to apply my knowledge in real-world scenarios and contribute to the growth of the creative industry in Nigeria. I’m thankful to ASKIA, the instructors, and my fellow graduands for this incredible journey,”she said.
