Ho, Dec. 19, GNA— Professor John Gatsi, Dean of Business School, University of Cape Coast, has admonished the graduates of Erijem Institute of Floral Design and Culinary Art in Ho, to develop good business plans as the foundation to succeed in their chosen field.
He said business plans were strategic tools that guided entrepreneurial ventures that stimulate business ideas to fruition.
He urged the ‘graduates to have such a plan to help execute their business ideas effectively.’
Prof. Gatsi, speaking at the 13th graduation ceremony of the Institute noted that a good business plan was also extremely valuable to enable an entrepreneur to raise funds from financial institutions to scale up.
Touching on the theme: “Income Sustainability Through Vocational Education,” Prof. Gatsi underscored the need for Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in accelerating the development of the country and addressing unemployment situations.
He said the TVET sector was a valuable option that could help in the nation’s industrialisation agenda and provide jobs for the citizens, especially the youth, hence the need to pay optimum attention to the sector.
The Dean said it was important to place a premium on quality technical and vocational training in the country as TVET aimed at developing the human resource through skills based training and enabling people to acquire the requisite entrepreneurial skills to become self-employed.
He called for a concerted effort to address the perception in the society that people who ventured into TVET were not academically inclined, as such notion was making it difficult for young people to develop an interest in the sector.
Prof. Gatsi urged religious leaders to use their platforms to encourage young people to move to the TVET sector to enhance their lots, saying, the importance of TVET to individual and societal development could not be underestimated.
He urged parents to identify the skills and talents in their children and work to develop such skills within them alongside formal education.
The Professor advised the graduates to put to good use the knowledge and skills acquired and become self-reliant and employers.
Mrs Marian Jemima Adzroe, Founder and Director of the Institute said her outfit was well positioned to provide the needed training for young people in catering, cake decoration and sugar craft, balloon and floral decoration for the job market.
She said conscious effort had to be made to improve the TVET sector, as “vocational education is the bedrock of every nation’s development.”
The Director mentioned inadequate hostel and classrooms as some challenges bedeviling the Institute and appealed to corporate organisations and philanthropists to come to the aid of the school.
Mrs Adzroe charged the graduates to be productive with the knowledge they have gained and thrive to become financially independent and be a blessing to their families and society.
Mr Richard Kwami Sefe, Member of Parliament of Anlo Constituency said there were greater opportunities in the TVET sector because companies were looking for people equipped with skills and practical experience to employ.
A total of 77 students graduated and were presented with certificates.
An exhibition was also mounted, showcasing the graduates’ competence in the various skills they acquired.
GNA