355 graduate from Institute of Survey and Land Management

Francis Opio, 29, a security officer at the Institute of Survey and Land Management was among the 355 students who graduated at the institute on Friday with a certificate in land survey.

Opio started working at the institution nearly five years ago and to him this qualification is a great honour.

"I joined here as an 'askari' in 2011 after my senior six because i had no money to take me to university," said Opio.

He said he was challenged after he realised that the students were his agemates forcing him to use his salary and pursue a certificate in land survey.

"Life was not good but I was focused until today I have achieved the first step" said a jolly Opio.

Now the head of security at the school, Opio says he still faces challenges like raising tuition fees since he is not allowed to do extra work outside and balancing work with study. He also noted that the institute has few learning equipment especially for survey students.

For now, even though he is now a graduate, Opio plans to keep his ‘askari' job as he completes his diploma because he believes it is this job that has opened opportunities for him.

"I love it so much," he added.

Francis Opio the security officer who graduated.

Besides being a security guard and a student at the same time, Opio also works as a co-lecturer who assists fellow students with practical knowledge because he is now good at assembling survey equipment.

He urged his fellow graduates, to avoid issues of land grabbing and issue proper land titles to proper clients.

And to the youth out there he advised them not to undermine any work because they never know what God has planned for them.