By Mohamed Jalloh
Thousands of University graduates across the country have appeared in their numbers to participate in the 1st Companies’ Exhibition and Job fair held at the Ajayi Crowther amphitheater, Fourah Bay College.
The event was organized by the Confucius Institute in partnership with the Academic and Career Advisory and Counseling Services (ACACS) of the University of Sierra Leone. It brought together a variety of Chinese companies and several local and international institutions.
The Director of ACACS, Dr. Madam Fatu Taqi stated that the event is a human resource seminar that seeks to enhance the job preparedness of students and graduates turned out every year by the Universities across the country.
“This is an event for job seekers to enhance skills development because they have the opportunity to meet with potential employers. The companies and the institutions will tell you what they are looking for and the job seekers must tailor their applications in line with the demands of the employer.”She noted.
Dr. Taqi, urge participants to be aufait with certain tips and rudiments surrounding the job market like how to dress, how to communicate, how to work in a group. People according to her, must use the opportunity created by this occasion to market them.
Professor Sahr Gbamanja, Acting Deputy, Vice Chancellor ,University of Sierra Leone disclosed that most University graduates in Sierra Leone find it very difficult to get jobs upon graduation because some of them don’t even know how to organize Curriculum Vitae.
The professor pointed out that this job exhibition will correct such deficiencies by establishing the platform for a meaningful carrier building.
Anthony Koroma, Commissioner National Youth Commission, underscored the timeliness of the job fair as youth unemployment has become a serious challenge in Sierra Leone. He pointed out that the job market is too small to be able to absorb what the different universities turn out every year.
The Youth Commission Chairman further stated that Mr. Koroma Said the Youth commission cannot do it alone that is why they have partnered with UNDP to establish the ACACS.
He concluded by calling on the private sector to organize similar programmes in the future so that potential employees can interface with potential employers.