A foreign institution, PRO University (PROU), has concluded plans to establish a pre-degree study programme for secondary school leavers, to enable them study in universities overseas, get scholarships and internships abroad.
PROU is a pre-degree institution, which started in Europe and has branches in the Britain, Australia, America, Germany and Canada. The institution unveiled its programme at a symposium in Lagos.
The Chief Executive Officer, PROU Nigeria, Dr Piyush Jain, said the institution is ready to include Nigeria as one of its locations, expressing satisfaction at the attitude of a high proportion of Nigerians towards attaining educational qualifications.
“There are two big problems we are solving. Young people are confused on what to do and when they know what to do, they need guidance. We have free training for students and they get a digital certificate in courses like data analysis, web development and the likes.
“The training and internships can be used to get employment in Nigeria or abroad. The only way for youths to unleash their potential is to train them and we are committed to that,” he said. Jain said a distinctive quality that distinguished PROU is the extent of engaging their students in internship programmes.
Chairman, Committee of Vice Chancellors and Registrars of Private Universities in Nigeria, Prof. Kabiru Adeyemo, hailed PROU for bringing its innovation to benefit school leavers in the country.
“The Committee of Vice Chancellors and Registrars of Private Universities, though appreciative of the opportunities given our students to pursue degree programmes with scholarships by PROU, however, we very much welcome and embrace the opportunities for postgraduate study in universities overseas,” he said.
Adeyemo encouraged school leavers aspiring to enter universities, to take the opportunities offered by PROU, to prepare students in their post-secondary study programmes.
Global/Country Advisor, PROU Education, Nigeria, Alaka-Yusuf Owolabi, stressed the need for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skill acquisition for students during internship.
He hailed the institution for bringing its project to the country. Owolabi, who is also the General Secretary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Lagos State, said ICT skills would help students when they are in need of employment.
He explained that training programmes on ICT could include practical skills development on areas that includes Microsoft word, excel, PowerPoint, Statistical Package for social sciences (SPSS) and networking.
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