The workshop, first of its kind in the history of the Institute brought together trade experts, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) practitioners as well as entrepreneurs.

It was on the theme “Career Development, a Master key to success”.

It was aimed at equipping trainees with the necessary career decision making knowledge and skills as well as to identify the various prospects in their chosen careers to boost their morale towards studies.

It also offered the participants the importunity to have one on one interaction with the trade experts and the resource persons.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, the Institute Manager, Mr Samuel Kwashie Amegbor, noted that most trainees at the Institute ignorantly chose their careers resulting in continuous decline in trainees’ commitment to studies.

He also noted that some trainees did not practice their trades after graduating from the Institute because they did no love the careers they were trained in.

Mr Amegbor underscored the need for career guidance and development in a well functioning TVET institution as it would guarantee the nation of professionals who loved what they do.

He said trainees at the Institute would be taken through series of career guidance and counselling activities as well as career development workshops to help reduce dropout rate in TVET.

He advised students to seek career guidance and counselling before making a career decision and ensure that they develop their skills progressively in their chosen careers.

He said due to the advancement in technology, organisations were less willing to make long term commitment to individuals and therefore job security lied not in employment but in employability.

Mr Amegbor therefore urged the participants to be willing to learn new skills in order to maintain their employability in today's competitive job market.

Mr Amegbor was a beneficiary of the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) Young Leaders Programmes on Vocational Training Education held in Japan.

Mr Sylvester Bayowo, Programmes Officer in charge of Governance and Education at JICA commended Biriwa Vocational Training and Rehabilitation Institute for the initiative and acknowledged the resourcefulness of Mr Amegbor to share his experience with the participants.

He assured the Institute of a continued collaboration in the areas of training opportunities for NVIT staff to help improve the quality of vocational education in Ghana.

He said JICA expected the Institute through its staff who benefited from the Japan training programmes to adopt skills and knowledge acquired and adapt them to complement their present work circumstances.

Mr Bayowo urged the participants to seize the opportunity to build successful and profitable careers for themselves, family and the nation at large.

Some of the participants who spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) expressed their excitement about the whole initiative and said they were much enlightened on their chosen careers.