Ilorin: The Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), in partnership with Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), has initiated a Postgraduate Diploma in Career, Guidance and Counselling. Mr Issa Aremu, Director-General of the institute, announced this development in Ilorin during the programme’s opening ceremony. The pilot programme will engage 20 participants nationwide, aiming to enhance employability and sustainable job opportunities.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the programme, backed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between MINILS and GIZ, benefits from enduring partnership and technical support. This collaboration aims to bolster lifelong career development services and promote informed career decision-making within Nigeria’s evolving labour market. Notable contributions from GIZ include a technical team visit to assess readiness, donated laptops, and support for participant accommodation and feeding.
Mr Aremu outlined that the programme, designed to last nine months, combines in-person classes at MINILS with distance learning via its E-Campus platform. The collaboration also encompasses a sustainability plan ensuring the programme’s permanence in the institute’s annual training calendar. A field/practicum component will enable participants to offer career guidance and counselling services, directly impacting Nigeria’s labour market.
The initiative aligns with Nigeria’s National Development Priorities, addressing unemployment and underemployment while supporting the International Labour Organisation’s Decent Work Agenda. It also contributes to President Bola Tinubu’s Human Capital Development pillar under the Renewed Hope Agenda, which stresses job creation, quality education, and workforce empowerment.
Mr Aremu highlighted that graduates of the programme are expected to propagate their newly acquired skills, training others and furthering the programme’s impact.