By Rita Ugo and Praise Adeagbo
Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) and Choice International Group (CIG) have reviewed the existing partnerships between the parties for expansion and strengthening the ties, as the CIG 25 sponsored college students to China, won an additional N3 million in their ongoing training.
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This was disclosed by the management of the institution during a courtesy visit to the college by the Chairman, Group Executive Officer of CIG and Vice Chairman, China-Africa Business Council, Chief Diana Ajoke Chen at the Council Chamber of YABATECH.
The partnership centrally focused on the initiatives of the nine projects proposed at the Forum of China-Africa cooperation on capacity building projects and humanistic exchange project, open up new prospects for China-Africa cooperation, help Africa cultivate urgently needed talents, help build and upgrade schools in Africa, implement future of Africa – a project for China-Africa cooperation on vocational education, the Management detailed.
It was mentioned that the partnership revolved Hangzhou Vocational and Technical College (HTVC), YABATECH, Choice International Investment Company Limited and CIG Motors Company Limited for implementation under “Silk Road College” which shall serve as an educational and learning center for international exchanges, with the likes of students, vocational and professional trainings, faculty training and academic research, to facilitate capacity building, cultural communication, mutual information accessibility and talent sharing between China and Nigeria.
The twenty-five beneficiary students from the School of Engineering of the college, undergoing a year and a half course in HVTC, China, were said by the college to have proven themselves outstandingly with excellent academic performances and extra-curricular activities engaged by HTVC.
One of the students won a bronze medal at the China International College Students Innovation Competition and is all prepared for another world-class competition in collaboration with Chinese schools, HVTC, and YABATECH.
Apart from the scholarship given by Chief Diana Foundation and the school, which the 25 students are beneficiaries, five of them won additional scholarships, worth N2 million and another one won a million naira in academic competitions. The group leader of the 25 students was given an ambassadorial status of CIG Motors for displaying leadership qualities.
On academic performance, the students proved themselves excellently with 20, having grade points ranging from 4.5 to 4.3, and others have 4.2 to 3.7 grade points as the minimum, while the total grade point is 4.5. They can all communicate in the Chinese language fluently while also mastering the learning of Kung Fu and Tai Chi.
In her address to the management, Chief Diana Chen disclosed that her conglomerate will henceforth be employing 200 fresh graduates of the college every year as her plan for the 78-year-old institution.
Tracing the relationship with the college, she said that the partnership with her organisation started in 2022 and to date, almost 96 students are already working with CIG through internship progress, while 30% of those students were retained.
She called for the immediate implementation of new 30 students of the college to be sponsored on scholarship for exchange students’ programmes as soon as the present 25 students in China return in November, this year.
The chairman, GAC Motors, however, gave automatic employment to two students who drew her life picture while the meeting was going on, with that of their colleague. The concerned students, both from the School of Art, Design and Printing, were lauded for their spontaneous creativity.
The rector, YABATECH, Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, in his response, canvassed for the expansion of the partnership to accommodate the setting up of industry-based laboratories in the college, as existing in institutions in China, designed to service the needs of the industries towards bridging the gap between the town and gown and also producing industry-ready graduates.
He said, “The laboratories, if replicated in the college with the same facilities in the industry, will enhance the training of students, as most of the laboratories put up by institutions do not meet the needs of the industry; hence, the essence for expanding our collaboration.”
The college, he said, is ready to provide space, laboratories and workshops that can be used to facilitate the exchange of training, while also training students who are not of the college by running the laboratories as a business centre for income generation.
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