By:
USIOBAIFO, Osahon Favour
In a bid to prepare future healthcare professionals for success in today’s highly competitive labour market, the Edo State Skills Development Agency (EdoJobs), in partnership with Jobberman, on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, organized a comprehensive employability and career readiness training for students of the College of Nursing Sciences, Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital (FNPH), Benin City.
The capacity-building programme brought together Post-Basic Nursing students, General Nursing students, and some members of staff for an intensive preparedness, professional development, and essential employability skills.
Declaring the training open, the Medical Director of Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Benin City, Dr Imafidon Osama Agbonile, commended EdoJobs and Jobberman for extending the initiative to the institution. He described the programme as timely urging participants to take full advantage of the opportunity to acquire practical skills that would enhance their professional growth and competitiveness in the job market. The training featured practical sessions on curriculum vitae (CV) writing, cover letter preparation, interview techniques, salary negotiation, workplace ethics, personal effectiveness, and other career development competencies considered essential for career success in the modern workplace.
Participants also engaged in interactive question-and-answer sessions and completed assessment exercises designed to evaluate their understanding of the concepts taught during the training. A major highlight of the programme was the presentation of Certificates of Participation to all participants in recognition of their successful completion of the training.
Earlier before the commencement of the programme, the training facilitators, led by Mr Bernard Obasi, paid a courtesy visit to the Medical Director and some members of the hospital’s management team. Present at the meeting were the Medical Director, Dr Imafidon Osama Agbonile, the Head of Clinical Services, Dr Godspower O. Owie; the Director of Administration, Mrs Clara C. O. Isede, the Acting Provost, College of Nursing Sciences, Mr Saturday O. Okolo; and the Head of Nursing Services, Mrs Beauty O. Osamuyimen.
Speaking during the visit, Mr Obasi explained that the purpose of the programme was to equip the nursing students with practical employability skills, particularly in CV writing, interview skills, negotiation and workplace ethics. He disclosed that labour market statistics indicate that nearly 80% of job seekers, particularly young people, are considered unemployable – not because they lack academic qualifications, but because they are deficient in critical soft skills required by employers. According to him, many graduates struggle to prepare compelling CVs, perform effectively during job interviews, or demonstrate the professional attitudes expected in the workplace. He explained that this gap informed the partnership between Jobberman and EdoJobs, which seeks to bridge the employability skills deficient by providing practical training in career readiness, work ethics, communication, personal effectiveness, negotiation, and other essential workplace competencies.
Responding, Dr Agbonile expressed appreciation to the delegation for choosing the College of Nursing Sciences as one of the beneficiaries of the initiative. He commended the Edo State Government for supporting programmes that empower young people with employability skills beyond academic qualifications, describing the initiative as innovative, strategic, and worthy of emulation by other governments. The Medical Director further expressed optimism that the programme would have a lasting positive impact on the participants and recommended that similar employability training be extended to members of staff, particularly newly recruited employees, as part of their orientation and onboarding process.
The training underscored the shared commitment of EdoJobs, Jobberman, and the management of Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Benin City, to developing a workforce that is not only professionally competent, but also equipped with the practical skills, confidence, and workplace values required to excel in today’s evolving employment landscape.
