The federal government has said that the purpose of setting up the Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) for graduates to acquire employability training has been achieved.

The project director of the scheme, Mr. Peter Papka, disclosed this in Akure, the Ondo State capital, at the opening ceremony of the GIS orientation training for interns and firms’ representatives.

Papka said that across all sectors, positive testimonies and encomiums have been pouring in from both interns and firms that have benefited from the scheme.

According to him, the scheme has contributed to the renewed growth of SMEs and skilled manpower in the country.

He said, “From registration figures on the GIS portal, 13,781 firms across the country have registered to participate in the scheme, while 305,780 graduates have registered. This is encouraging as it shows great confidence in the programme from both firms and graduates.

“251,186 graduates have been deployed, with 68% males, 31% females and 1% vulnerable. So far, 9,387 have exited the scheme, with over 1,000 having secured jobs or started their own businesses.”

“The orientation and employability training is meant primarily for graduate interns. We have, however, deliberately included partnering firms and organisations as part of government’s commitment in contributing towards enhancement of their capacity in service effectiveness, especially through staff assessment, official etiquette, staff management and development .”

Papka explained that in line with the federal government’s resolve to diversify the economic base of the country, the scheme has keyed into non-oil sectors with a view to developing capacity and skills required to complement the oil and gas sector of the economy.

He said that the scheme will be another example that Nigeria will sell to the world as a way out of graduate unemployment.