DIUSCADI Organizes Seminar For UNIZIK Finalists On After-School Life 

By Ikenna Nwokedi

The Dr. Ikechukwu Umeh Students’ Career Development Initiative (DIUSCADI) on Saturday, 4th November 2023 held the fourth edition of Life-After School Career Development Seminar series.

The seminar which took place at ASUU NAU Secretariat UNIZIK with the theme: “Finalist Launchpad for Life after School”, had in attendance graduates, undergraduates, members of the academia and resource persons from within the state and beyond gracing the occasion.

In his remarks, Chairman of the occasion, Professor Jude Kennedy Emejulu eulogized the convener of DIUSCARDI for the initiative geared towards empowering Nigerian youths and young school leavers on life after the Ivory Tower.

Prof. Emejulu averred that the seminar couldn’t have come at a right time when young graduates need to be intimated on the necessity of skill acquisition and best practices in job seeking and placements. The scholar encouraged the participants to implement what they learnt at the seminar and strive to be the best in their chosen career path.

Declaring the seminar open, the Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Charles Esimone, informed that the DIUSCADI programme on teaching students the requisite skills and application of knowledge on life after school is apt and is part of the ‘Project 200’ mantra of the present administration of the institution in ensuring that young school leavers can get their dream jobs and become entrepreneurs.

Prof. Esimone who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu commended the organizers for the impact they are making in the lives of the would be young school leavers.

He also eulogizing them for attending such a programme that will help shape their future. Prof. Ikechebelu mentioned the roles that passion and determination played in helping him to achieve his life goals by establishing one of the best hospitals in the South East region.

The scholar admonished the students to see challenges within their environment as opportunity to provide solutions to such challenges and the process income is generated for life sustainability and building future dreams.

In his address, the programme convener and founder of DIUSCARDI, Dr. Ikechukwu Umeh, pointed out that the mission is poised towards empowering fresh graduates and finalist students in higher institutions in the state by arming them with introspective knowledge and tools to leverage on, in order to harness a mix of their education and the right skills for an easy and successful career development in view of life after school.

Dr Umeh emphasized that DIUSCARDI leverages on trendy advancements in soft and hard skills, real estate, digital marketing, fashion and food to expose participants to entrepreneurship and employment opportunities.

He added that over 500 participants assembled from different institutions of higher learning in the state and beyond are featuring in the fourth edition of the DIUSCARDI’s Life After School Career Development Seminar and Workshop series.

A resource person, Comrade Okechukwu Cyril-Nwuche, who discussed the topic “Opening, Registering and Running a Business Enterprise in Nigeria”, highlighted some of the key variables to consider when starting up a business to include setting a clear vision of where you want to go, identifying with one’s passion, discovering a business ideation, acquiring managerial skills, consideration of business location and being familiar with regulatory framework.

Another resource person and current Head, Department of Library and Information Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Dr. Florence Nwofor, taught the students on basic steps towards writing a competitive curriculum vitae and key points on interview preparations for employment.

The scholar emphasized also on the need for job applicants to make extensive research while preparing for job interviews.

Highpoints of the occasion was division of the seminar attendees into groups for tutorials on Solar panels and CCTV installation, ICT, confectionery, digital marketing, real estate and fashion business.

The event also featured question and answer session between the students and the resource persons on career path and building a sustainable future.