A total of 109 trainees, including five males, have graduated from the Erigem Institute of Floral Design and Culinary Arts in Ho after successfully completing training in various vocational disciplines.
The graduates were drawn from programmes in cake decoration and sugarcraft, balloon and floral design, as well as catering, marking another milestone in the Institute’s contribution to skills development in the Volta Region and beyond.
The graduation ceremony, held last Sunday, combined the 11th and 12th graduating cohorts after the earlier event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Certificates for the graduates were awarded by the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI).
Established in 2010, the Institute has trained more than 1,000 people nationwide in cake decoration and confectionery arts, positioning itself as a key player in vocational education and creative skills training.
Speaking as the special guest of honour, the Volta Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr Divine Bosson, underscored the importance of vocational skills in addressing unemployment.
He described skills acquisition as one of the most valuable assets individuals can possess, stressing that technical training provides a sustainable pathway to self-reliance.
“When they say there is no job, remember your skill,” he said, encouraging the graduates to remain committed to their craft and to use their training as a foundation for economic independence.
The Founder and Director of the Institute, Madam Mariam Adzroe, announced that the school had recently moved from its previous location to a permanent site within the Ho Municipality.
She disclosed ongoing efforts to complete a hostel facility and appealed for support from stakeholders to advance the project.
Madam Adzroe noted that the Institute also prioritises inclusivity, offering scholarships to vulnerable students, including orphans, with 20 beneficiaries among the latest graduating cohort.
She expressed appreciation to government for providing personal protective equipment and sanitary materials during the COVID-19 period, which helped the institution maintain safe operations.
According to her, the Institute remains committed to empowering young people with practical skills to achieve financial independence, and she appealed for further assistance, including the provision of a bus to support transportation needs.
“We are complementing the government’s efforts and we need support to train more people to become economically independent,” she said.
She added that the long-term vision of the Institute is to establish the first private vocational university in Ghana.
A telecommunications engineer, Mr Douglas Wagba, advised the graduates not to see graduation as the end of learning, but rather as the beginning of continuous skill development and improvement.
The event also featured a fundraising session aimed at completing the Institute’s hostel block, with attendees making contributions towards the project.
An exhibition was held alongside the ceremony, showcasing the practical work and creative outputs of the graduating trainees.
