Do not rely on govt jobs - Envoy

The graduation season has been concluded and thousands of graduates are already into the job-market. One thing that is certain is that only a few of these young professionals will have the opportunity to get formal employment, or white-collar jobs from the Government.

So, what should the graduates do to prevail over the challenge of acute unemployment? Yutaka Nakamura, the deputy head of mission and ministercounsellor of the Japanese Embassy, argues that relying on the Government for jobs is no longer sustainable, which is why graduates should focus on the private sector for employment.

Speaking during the 10th graduation ceremony of University of Kisubi (Unik), Nakamura said:

"The private sector is the key to development. This, nonetheless, calls for a solid education system that can ably produce competent people, who can support sustainable development innovations," Nakamura said.

"Even my country, Japan, was able to develop because of creative and hardworking individuals, who supported sustainable development innovations that created wealth. Development is propelled by jobcreators, not job-seekers," he said Nakamura later asked the graduands of Kisubi University to develop a mindset that enables them to be creative career builders. He also asked them to have zeal and determination to succeed.

Maviiri decries cheating

Speaking during the same function, the Vice-Chancellor of Uganda Martyrs' University, Nkozi, Prof. John Chrysostom Maviiri decried the culture of cheating, which he said was developing in many universities.

"It is unfortunate that today, we have people who come to the university simply to take a paper and they will do whatever it takes to get it. A student will not even fear to say to you after they have failed their exams: "Father, what can I do?" Insinuating that you take a bribe!"

"It is even more worrying that even in nursery schools, the pupils now have to bribe their friends by giving them petty gifts, like sweets and cash, to vote them as prefects. Parents, please do not promote this. People should elect us because of our competence, not because of the gifts we have given them."

"Let's transform our society, right from school. We should offer ourselves as we are and the people will judge us by our capabilities. We should do whatever we do on the principle of faithfulness and trustworthiness," Maviiri further advised.

He later called for academic partnerships and collaborations to boost university education. The chancellor of the University, Bro. Peter Kazzekulya, asked the graduands to always yearn for more knowledge, not only in academics but also in their professional and social life.

The vice-chancellor, Prof. John Ssebuufu, thanked President Yoweri Museveni for his immense support to the university, especially his sponsorship of the university's science students. He also thanked the American University of Walsh for its fruitful partnership with Unik. Walsh University was represented by Carol Sandbrik.

During the ceremony, Unik passed out 266 students, who got certificates, diplomas, degrees and master's degrees in disciplines like education, business administration, ICT, medical laboratory technology and counselling psychology. Unik also passed out its first graduands, since it attained autonomy from Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi, in 2015.

The pioneer graduands, Kenneth Loro and Doreen Birungi, got a certificate in ICT. The graduation function ran under the theme: Education and Sustainable Development.