By Ikenna Nwokedi 

History was once again made as the Dr. Ikechukwu Umeh Students’ Career Development Initiative (DIUSCADI) Association on Friday, August 23rd, 2024 held her fifth edition of Life-After School Career Development Seminar series tagged LASCDASS-5.

The seminar cum workshop which took place at ASUU NAU Secretariat, UNIZIK with the theme, "Turn Your Skill into Wealth for Life After School" was an opportunity for fresh graduands, finalists, undergraduates, members of the academia, technocrats and entrepreneurs to share life experiences and transfer the necessary knowledge to the young ones on how to succeed after life in the Ivory Tower.

In his opening remarks, Chairman of the occasion and current Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences, Professor Pius Okoye commended the convener of DIUSCADI, Dr. Ikechukwu Umeh for the initiative with the objective of empowering young school leavers to develop the right entrepreneurial spirit and be adequately prepared to face the society after their academic adventure at the Ivory Tower.

Prof. Okoye thanked the Acting Vice-Chancellor for gracing the occasion despite her busy schedule as her presence will no doubt serve as the necessary inspiration for the soon to be young school leavers. The Dean prayed God to strengthen the Acting VC in the discharge of her duties while also wishing the young school leavers the very best in their life and career pursuit.

Declaring the event open, the acting Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Professor Carol Arinze-Umobi described the DIUSCADI Convener as God sent who has made it a point of duty in preparing soon to be fresh graduates for life after school with the right knowledge and skills in various fields of endeavour.

Prof. Arinze-Umobi who described the workshop as a good programme in the right direction encouraged the students to make the best out of the colourful event by developing their skills and generating ideas which will make them self-reliant in line with the motto of the institution.

In his address, the programme convener and founder of DIUSCADI, Dr. Ikechukwu Umeh stated that the aim of the programme is to empower fresh graduates and final year students in higher institutions with the right knowledge and tools to leverage on, in order to harness a mix of their education and the right skills for an easy, progressive and successful career development in the aftermath of their academic sojourn in the ivory tower.

The current Head, Department of Information Technology, UNIZIK disclosed that this year's LASCDASS-5 programme had almost a double of participants from the fourth edition with about 900 participants who registered with close to 800 of them physically present while 100 candidates featured virtually. The scholar averred that DIUSCADI leverages on trendy advancements in soft and hard skills, real estate, digital marketing, fashion and food to expose participants to entrepreneurship and employment opportunities.

In her keynote speech titled, "The Youth and Innovation" delivered by Miss Chinwe Okoye, Special Adviser to the Anambra State Governor on Innovation and Business Incubation, the young innovator admonished the young ones on the essence of making an appropriate career choice based on passion and knowledge. 

Miss Okoye who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Innovation, Mr. Ike Peter called on youths to channel their energies into meaningful use by developing themselves through imbibing skills and utilizing their time judiciously. He informed that with the advent of very sophisticated telephone gadgets and artificial intelligence they can empower themselves from the comfort of their living rooms. He also eulogized Dr. Umeh for such a noble initiative.

In her lecture titled, "General Knowledge Presentation, Curriculum Vitae and Interview Preparation for Employment", the Head, Department of Library and Information Science, UNIZIK, Dr. Amaka Florence Nwofor described CV as a document prepared by a job seeker showcasing ones personal info, experience, academic standing, knowledge and expertise. The scholar gave insights of the content and way to develop a good CV. She also gave useful tips on job search and processes of preparing for interview leading to a successful story in securing a dream job.

Earlier in his remarks, the MD/CEO Anambra State ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata emphasized the essence of diversification and learning various skills which will enable the present day youths and young school leavers to fit into an evolving world of realities. Hon. Agbata encouraged the students to take the initiative and be productive as well as make the best out of the opportunity as during their time they did not have such a glorious opportunity as provided by the DIUSCADI Association.

Other top scholars who shared their views were the former Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Imo State, Prof. Emeka Ezeonu and a renown scholar in the medical field, Prof. Jude Kennedy Emejulu.

The worksop also featured breakup concurrent sessions and group interactions on various areas of interest such as ICT, digital marketing, fashion business, agricultural business, event management, software development business and business on information technology.

Other highlights of the seminar were talk show on possible causes of failure for young businesses delivered by the DIUSCADI Convener, skill presentation and testimonial, exhibitions, question and answer sessions as well as photography.