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Sithandile Mpofu, Online Reporter

OVER 160 people on Saturday graduated from skills training programs which was facilitated by the Centre for Occupational Health & Safety (COH&S) College in partnership with the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA).

The graduates did courses on Nurse Aide, Elderly Care, Special Needs Care, Dementia Care, petroleum jelly making, beadwork, dressmaking, Pharmacy Assistance, Hotel and Catering, Till Operation, Hairdressing and Baking.

The graduates were capped by Bulawayo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Judith Ncube and the president of Zimbabwe West Union Conference in the SDA church, Dr  Sikhumbuzo Ndlovu.

Minister Ncube lamented the social ills of drug use and abuse as crimes bedeviling Njube suburb where the graduation was held.

She said the graduation was a testimony that if all stakeholders are united they can make a huge impact in the community.

“The issue of drug and substance abuse has wrecked the lives of many young people. Kids as young as 12 years are taken to  Ingutsheni Hospital to get help from drug addictions. It is not a conducive environment, but we have nowhere else to take them to. When they are better we take them to Mlondolozi in Khami Prison so that they can be closely monitored lest they relapse,” she said.

Minister Ncube applauded the Seventh-day Adventist church and the Njube community for initiating this incredible community service program.

She said there was a great need for people to be skilled to enable them to improve their livelihoods.

The COH&S College began providing the free courses in 2023 and over 8000 students have graduated.

“As a college we are rallying behind the President’s mantra that “ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo, hence we introduced these skills training. I want to thank the SDA church for opening doors to the community  and  for this partnership in skills development ,” says Mr Mathe, the Program Manager for the college.