The Teshie-Nungua Area (TNA) Pentecost Skills Development Centre (PSDC) has held its second graduation ceremony.
The ceremony, which took place at the school’s premises at the Emmanuel Kwadwo Kyei Memorial Temple, Baatsona, on September 12, 2019, saw 68 students passing out from the four departments – Catering, Cosmetology, Fashion, and ICT.
In an address, the guest speaker, Honourable Dr Bernard Oko-Boye, Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku Consistency, thanked the leadership of the Church for the great initiative of establishing the school, saying, “The Church of Pentecost has really invested in the lives of young people.”
According to Hon Dr Oko-Boye, some people try to associate with people because of favours they will get, but those who give skills go to the aid of the needy. “The best way to love people is to make them fishers of men, and this is what The Church of Pentecost has done.”
The MP was hopeful that the Centre would be one of the most sought-after vocational schools in the country.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Area Head, Apostle Dr Alfred Koduah, stressed the need for parents to educate their children, saying, “Education is very important and if Christians want to break the cycle of poverty, then there is the need to educate our children.”
Commenting on the exile of the Israelites to Babylon, he said King Nebuchadnezzar specifically instructed his chief of staff, Ashpenaz to educate Daniel and his three friends in the language and literature of the Babylonians. He explained that King Nebuchadnezzar saw the essence of education although he was an idol worshipper and had a bad name in the Bible.
Apostle Dr Koduah, therefore, encouraged Christians not to delight in poverty but to strive to educate their children so that they can compete with their contemporaries. He also encouraged the graduands to work with their skills and not to stay at home waiting to be employed by the government.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the school who is also the Area Women’s Ministry Leader, Deaconess Cynthia Araba Siaw Agyepong, was grateful to the Lord Jesus for the milestone that the Centre has chalked.
She thanked the immediate past Area Head, Prophet James Osei Amaniampong and his wife, Georgina for the support the school has received since its establishment. She also thanked the current Area Head, Apostle Dr Alfred Koduah, for also supporting the Centre since he took over as the Area Head last year.
Deaconess Araba Siaw Agyepong indicated that since the inception of the Centre three years ago, it has been able to empower young people with employable skills to start their own businesses. She urged the graduands to work with the skills they have acquired.
The Board Chairperson of the school, Elder Felix Adu, said the school now has a well-constituted board which oversees the day to day affairs of the school.
According to him, the board will ensure that the Centre becomes a self-sustaining school and accredited. He also urged the graduating students to exhibit their skills and be good ambassadors of the school.
Deaconess Margaret Osei, the Deputy Director of the Women’s Ministry of The Church of Pentecost, in a remark based on Mathew 25:14, stated: “The purpose of this training you have received is for you to work with it, help your local, district and the area to benefit from your skills.”
She also encouraged the graduating students to work hard and exhibit truthfulness and integrity in their dealings with their clients since that will draw more customers to them.
Three outstanding students were awarded for their distinguished performance while each graduating student received certificates from The Church of Pentecost, NVTI, and COTVET.
Report by Isabella Orhin Gyaw