MSS Events Tech Academy has graduated its first cohort of 56 professionals trained in various areas of event technology. The graduates completed a 10-week intensive program covering LED screen engineering, sound engineering, camera craft and video production, lighting design and control, event management and production, rigging and trussing, among other specialized skills. They were formally inducted into the industry at the academy's graduation ceremony and live capstone showcase themed, "Certifying the Next Generation of Event Tech Professionals."
The Managing Director of MSS Academy, Tunbosun Kola-Daisi, stated that the initiative was established to create employment opportunities for young Nigerians, reduce youth idleness, and equip participants with practical skills required by the expanding events industry. He emphasized that the academy was created to address the shortage of properly trained and structured professionals in the sector. Kola-Daisi expressed concern about the number of young people who are idle and lack the necessary skills, which led to the development of the academy.
Kola-Daisi described the events industry as a major youth-driven sector with considerable potential for employment creation and economic growth. He stressed that trained manpower was needed to close existing skills gaps. According to him, the impact of the program would extend beyond the 56 graduates, as beneficiaries who secure jobs or establish businesses could, in turn, create employment for others. This, he believes, will contribute to economic growth.
The Vice Chancellor of KolaDaisi University, Prof. Olajumoke Morenikeji, expressed the university's readiness to collaborate with industry-focused organizations such as MSS Events Tech to equip young Nigerians with practical, employable skills. She emphasized that practical training should complement academic learning and help students acquire entrepreneurial and industry-relevant skills capable of translating into sustainable livelihoods.
Facilitators at the event commended the academy and the graduates for attaining the milestone, describing the ceremony as an important step in formally introducing the trainees into the event technology industry. They urged the graduates to put their newly acquired skills to productive use, uphold integrity and professionalism, and maintain the standards associated with the academy.
MSS Academy plans to expand its operations into the northern and eastern parts of Nigeria and eventually beyond the country's borders. However, Kola-Daisi identified inadequate infrastructure and security challenges in some parts of the country as factors slowing expansion. The company is also exploring franchise arrangements that would allow partners in other African markets to adopt its brand, expertise, technology, and operational standards.
The graduates were advised to continue improving their skills, trust their abilities, remain humble, and allow the quality of their work to speak for them. With MSS Academy's investment in new technology and constant updates to its operations, the company aims to remain competitive in the rapidly changing events industry and make a positive impact on the economy.
Key points
- MSS Academy graduates 56 professionals in event technology to address youth idleness and skills gaps in Nigeria's events industry.
- The academy plans to expand its operations into new regions and explore franchise arrangements in other African markets.
- The graduates were inducted into the industry with a charge to uphold integrity, professionalism, and good character.
