KAMPALA, UGANDA – The Third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister without portfolio, Rt. Hon. Hajjat Rukia Isanga Nakadama, has urged universities in Uganda to prioritize programs in Information Communication Technology (ICT), oil, and gas to address the country’s growing demand for skilled labor in these sectors.
Speaking at the 4th graduation ceremony of Al-Mustafa Islamic College in Kyengera, Wakiso District, Nakadama emphasized the importance of universities producing graduates with relevant skills to support the country’s economic development.
“We need to focus on producing graduates with skills in ICT, oil, and gas to support the growth of our economy,” Nakadama said. “These sectors are critical to our development, and we need to ensure that our universities are producing graduates who can meet the demand for skilled labor.”
Nakadama also commended Al-Mustafa Islamic College for its efforts in producing graduates with vocational skills, saying that this was in line with the government’s emphasis on skilling Uganda’s youth.
In his remarks, the Iranian Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Mr. Majid Saffar, echoed Nakadama’s sentiments, saying that ICT, oil, and gas were critical sectors that required specialized skills.
“ICT is a key driver of economic growth, and Uganda needs to prioritize its development to remain competitive,” Saffar said. “Similarly, the oil and gas sector requires specialized skills, and we need to ensure that our universities are producing graduates who can meet the demand for labor in this sector.”
Dr. Rouhollah Dehghani, the Principal of Al-Mustafa Islamic College, thanked the government for its support and emphasized the college’s commitment to producing graduates with relevant skills.
“We are committed to producing graduates who can meet the demands of the job market,” Dehghani said. “We will continue to work with the government and other stakeholders to ensure that our programs are relevant and meet the needs of the economy.”
Prof. Hyderi Abidi, the Chairman of the Governing Council of Al-Mustafa Islamic College, also spoke at the ceremony, emphasizing the importance of education in national development.
“Education is key to national development, and we need to prioritize it if we want to achieve our goals,” Abidi said. “We need to produce graduates who can think critically and solve problems, and we need to ensure that our universities are producing graduates who can meet the demands of the job market.”
Dr. John Mutekanga Ssalongo, the Assistant Commissioner for Higher Education at the Ministry of Education and Sports, represented the ministry at the ceremony. He emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting universities in producing graduates with relevant skills.
“The government is committed to supporting universities in producing graduates with skills that meet the demands of the job market,” Ssalongo said. “We will continue to work with universities to ensure that their programs are relevant and meet the needs of the economy.”
The graduation ceremony was attended by dignitaries from various fields, including education, government, and diplomacy.
