MORE experts in Labour related matters are required in Nigerian working sector in order to boost the workers’ welfare and engender industrial peace, Issa Aremu, Director General, Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) Ilorin, has said.
Aremu spoke yesterday in Ilorin at the maiden convocation degree awarding ceremony of the Institute during which 20 students were awarded Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management. The MINILS is affiliated to the University of Ilorin.
According to the MINIL’s boss, “an aspect of democracy that we need mostly in Nigeria today is in the area of having more experts in the field of labour, especially in personnel management. Any nation that has the abundance of these experts will enjoy harmonious relationships between her workforce and the strata of governments.
“We thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for bridging these gaps through MINIL. We equally thank the Management of University of Ilorin, under the able leadership of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Wahab Egbewole for making this affiliation a huge success,” he said.
Aremu, who disclosed that the students have undergone rigorous mentorship and learning procedures, added that the graduands could compete with their colleagues any where in the world and make the much needed changes in the labour sector. He enjoined them to imbibe integrity and uphold honesty in all their endeavours.
He commended the University of Ilorin for the seamless collaboration with the MINILS, as he canvassed more partnership in the area of churning out expected benefits for the students of the institute.
Speaking at the event, Egbewole, SAN, the Vice Chancellor described the Students graduation as a feat, and an accomplishment worthy of celebrations.
Egbewole who was represented by Prof. Yahaya Imam, the Director of the Centre for Affiliated Institutions of the University pointed out that education would never play a second fiddle to any other known human pursuits.
He opined, “it is our expectations that you will carry this knowledge with you all over the world, contribute and impact the world positively”. He urged the graduands to be innovative and use their acquired knowledge in overcoming challenges of life
Earlier in his welcome address, the Coordinator of Academic Programme, MINILS, Dr. Sylvanus Adamade stated that 20 out of the 33 pioneer set of students graduated.
“According to the approved results of the Senate of the University of Ilorin, 10 of the graduated first set of students had Second Class Upper Division Grade and 10 had Second Class Lower Division Grade.
“All 20 graduated students were successfully enrolled for the mandatory National Youths Service Corps exercise for year 2025,” he said..
He believed that the programme would continue to support the labour expert needs of Nigeria in particular and and that of the West ç Sub Region.
The Kwara State Controller, of Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr. Orodiran Bolarin advised the graduands to see their academic successes not as personal achievement but as that needed to contribute to the growth of Nigerian economy.
Bolarin, who represented the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha said that challenges are inevitable in life but urged the graduands to develop resiliencef to surmount it.
In their separate reactions, the two graduands with the highest scores, Miss Funmilayo Aina and Sidiqat Ahmed attributed their successes to the commitments of the Lecturers and the Management of the MINILS.
The epoch making convocation was attended by some Labour leaders, stakeholders in industrial and Labour relations and the immediate past DG of the institute, Alhaji lshiaq Alabi among others.
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