The People’s Republic of China has through the Confucius Institute at the University of Sierra Leone, organized the first ever job fair at the Ajayi Crowther Amphitheatre at Fourah Bay College in Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital city. The job fair attracted huge number of graduates and continued students from the University of Sierra Leone and other tertiary institutions.

Chinese Embassy and University of Sierra Leone Officials

The Director of Confucius Institute, Professor He Mingqing said the aim of the job fair and International Company Exhibition was to provide a platform where students, graduates and the general public can interact with companies, organizations and institutions from diverse sectors, as potential employers. He noted that the job fair will give opportunity for one-on-one discussions and also provides the companies the stage to showcase their essence and relevance in the development of Sierra Leone.

Prof. He furthered that the fair was an open event, free of charge, with the objective of establishing and experience-sharing forum in which our new graduate would benefit from the diverse sectors that will participate and also assist them in their search.

The Director of Academic & Career Advisory & Counselling Services (ACACS), Dr. Fatmatta Taqi said they have for the past three years been doing job fair, annual entrepreneurship seminars with the aim of empowering graduate to be attractive to the would be employers. She informed that the job fair attracted over forty companies and businesses that had about four hundred jobs to offer.

Students taking advantage of opportunities provided by China

The Acting Vice- Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sierra Leone, Professor Ekudayo J.D. Thompson described the job fair as timely noting it coming at a time when there is an increasing concern about the discount between education and employment resulting in joblessness for many tertiary and higher education sector graduates. He emphasized that there is a need for students at tertiary and higher education sector to acquire skills for job creation.

He therefore commended the Confucius institute for the laudable job fair initiative, adding it will give graduates and continuing students’ insights into what obtains in the employment market.

Present at the event was the Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Wu Peng and other government and private sector officials.