Firm Launches Initiative to Empower Millions with Industry Skills, Graduates First Batch of Healthcare Assistants

Push Africa has unveiled a major skills development initiative to empower millions of Nigerians and Africans with market-ready, industry-relevant competencies. The organisation’s Founder, Doris Egberamen, announced the plan during the inaugural graduation ceremony of the Push Africa Healthcare Assistant Training Programme, Class of 2024/2025, held on Saturday in Abuja.

The ceremony, organised in partnership with the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), marked the graduation of over 100 healthcare assistants, an achievement Egberamen described as the first step in Push Africa’s broader vision to train and empower two million people across the continent.

She explained that the initiative is driven by a commitment to addressing unemployment and poverty by equipping young people with practical skills in healthcare, technology, media, and agriculture. According to her, the organisation’s mission is to innovate, initiate, and implement labour market training that meets both local and international standards.

Egberamen urged the new graduates to embrace discipline, empathy, and professionalism as they enter the healthcare sector, noting that their chosen field demands not only technical competence but strong ethical values. She encouraged them to view the programme as the beginning of a long-term career pathway, stressing that the skills they have gained are globally relevant and can unlock opportunities across borders.

In his remarks, the President of AUST, Professor Azikiwe Onwualu, highlighted the university’s strong track record, stating that its postgraduate alumni boast a 100 per cent employment rate. He noted that Nigeria’s current workforce imbalance, where universities produce more degree holders than technicians, makes technical and vocational education crucial to national development.

To bridge this gap, Onwualu said AUST has expanded its academic vision to include technical and vocational programmes, creating an innovation hub to ensure students graduate with hands-on, industry-ready skills. He assured the healthcare assistants that the training they received is internationally recognised and provides a solid foundation for excellence in their careers.

Onwualu encouraged the graduands to continuously upgrade their knowledge, pursue further training, and take advantage of pathways that can transition them into full nursing and other health professions as the university expands its offerings. He expressed confidence that their success would demonstrate the impact of AUST’s commitment to producing highly skilled graduates who can contribute to Africa’s development.

The event was attended by medical directors from across Abuja and officials from the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, who commended the initiative for strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare workforce and creating new employment pathways for young people.