Calabar, (Sundiata Scholar) – The University of Calabar (UniCal), have in partnership with the Foundation for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage in Nigeria (FOPCHEN), trained 43 persons in solar installation and maintenance.
According to the organisers of the training, 25 of the trainees are students while 18 are residents of Aka Efa Community, a suburban area in Calabar municipality.
Issuing certificates to the beneficiaries on Friday in Calabar, the Vice Chancellor of UniCal, Prof. Florence Obi, urged the trainees to take the training seriously.
Represented by Prof Eno Nta, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Obi described the training as a ‘golden nugget’
She urged the trainees to take advantage of the opportunity in the interest of their future and wellbeing.
“It is not easy to have this kind of opportunity. Please see it as a moment to define your direction in life.
“The next phase will soon begin, so it is for you to decide whether to shine or not, and this is dependent on how you use of this opportunity,” he said.
The vice chancellor further told the trainees that proper utilisation of the opportunity would make them to become self-reliant.
Also speaking, Dr Blessing Ntamu, the Head, External Relations, UniCal, said that it was important for youths to acquire skills in addition to academic certificates.
“This training will not only equip you to be employable, it will make you job creators and employers.
“The training is practical and hands-on, participants will gain real-world experience by getting involved in the training,” she said.
On his part, the Director of FOPCHEN, Prof. Bekeh Ukelina, said that the training was part of a project aimed at reducing carbon emission around the world.
Ukelina said that the trainees would receive grants after an advanced stage of training on inverter assembling and repairs.
“We hope that this project will lead to lithium batteries production in the future,” he said.
One of the trainees, Miss Abigail Mkpong, said that she was grateful for the rare opportunity to be trained in solar installation and maintenance.
reports that UniCal is at the forefront of a large-scale solar farm project that aims to provide sustainable power to the university.
The project also targets to supply electricity to the University of Cross River and the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.(NAN)