Lands Minister, Judith Nabakooba has cautioned graduates against indulging in money wasting such as gambling and womanizing that drain people’s incomes and make them poor.
The minister made the call during the 9th graduation ceremony of Royal Institute of Business and Technical Education, Bwaise where she graced the occasion as the guest of honor.
Nabakooba noted that such vices among youth derail their efforts to alleviate poverty and end up being a danger to society.
“Protect yourselves from HIV/AIDS and learn how to appreciate and be contented with the little that you have. It is better to earn less faithfully with integrity than becoming rich with ill-gotten wealth,” she stated.
To elevate their living standards, the minister advised the youths to form groups and embrace government programmes and get money to start their own businesses.
“Form groups, work together, develop projects because when you are in a group, you can move faster and you have very many ideas that can work out than working as an individual. Together you can shield yourselves from the storm but also from the shocks of starting a business alone,” she advised.
266 students from different disciplines were conferred with national certificates and diplomas in catering, cosmetology, mechanical engineering, journalism and media studies among others.
The minister lauded the institute’s management for supporting the government in training youths for a better sustainable future.
“I am happy that you have largely sent out a group that has more job creators than job seekers. At such a critical time when the cost of living is a bit high and you have done it at affordable cost with the relevant quality vocational education. You have supported the government’s strategy of supporting the youths irrespective of their religions, gender, tribes or race.”
Nabakooba pledged government support towards the institute.
“I wish to commit on behalf of the government to lobby that you get supported to ensure competence based learning and providing machinery.”
“We therefore thank the Royal Institute that has supported the government to train youths in all these lifelong skills. Thank you for being a key partner of the government’s agenda. Uganda has always looked and learned from countries such as Japan and China where skills have made their nationals to be self-sustaining and reliant.” she added
Mr John Lubega, the Royal Institute director asked the graduates to put the knowledge they have acquired into practice.
“You are now ready for the world. I want you to surface all the challenges and innovate new ideas that will benefit our country using the knowledge you have acquired,” he said.
Mr Geoffrey Kawanguzi, an official from UBTEB regretted to note that many schools still engage in exam malpractices that led to the cancelation of results for 58 students.“When we get you in any activities of malpractice, we cancel all your exams for that semester,” he noted.
