20 Nov 2018

Graduating interns at the ministry of infrastructure and housing development have been advised to jealously guard against any situations that might ruin their future aspirations.

At the skills empowerment workshop organised for the ministry’s graduating interns in Mahalapye recently, Permanent Secretary, Mr Dikagiso Mokotedi said government had invested in the future by empowering young people through education.

He thus pleaded with the youth to protect the knowledge, skills and qualification by staying away from crime, drugs and alcohol abuse which have the potential of halting their aspirations. “It is unfortunate that some of the young people are engaged in negative behaviour which has the potential to ruin their future. It will be like flushing down one’s future down the drain as well as wasting the resources incurred by government in your education,” he said.

 He said government spent its resources educating the youth as part of investment so that they would be able to take the country further in terms of development. “You may not have jobs now but no one can take away your knowledge, he said.”

He advised the graduates to utilise the skills acquired while on duty and use them in their future endeavours. “The good and the bad that you might have experienced during your tenure here, must be used to strengthen you into a better person,” he said.

Mr Mokotedi said the youth of today were exposed to a technologically driven environment, where innovation was a thing of the day. He therefore urged them to take advantage of the openings into the global village as a result of advanced technology. He said even though the economy of the country was still growing, young people must come up with creative ideas to help it diversify and sustain on locally produced goods.

He therefore urged graduating interns to contribute in developing the education system by infusing the Tswana culture and tradition with modern technology.

Mr Mokotedi said it would be unfortunate for cultural Tswana practices and norms that were of value and defined the people of Botswana to disappear as our people associated with cultures of other nations.

He further said character building was a key component to success urging those willing to engage in business to uphold professional standards in order to succeed. ENDS