At seminar on soft skills dev’t: Yaounde Int’l Business School students challenged to dream big.

The call was made February 9. This was in the course of a three-day training for the students on soft skills development. The training took place at YIBS’s campus at Carrefour Simbock, Yaounde.

The seminar which has become a tradition to the outstanding professional institution saw renowned resource persons inspiring the students.

According to the President and Chief Executive Officer, CEO of YIBS, Godfred Taku, the goal is to ensure students blend hard and soft skills, to excel in life.

Taku said in line with the schools drive for professionalism, the administration of YIBS wants its products to have all the skills needed in the job market.

The soft skill development took place within the context of the 37th edition of the National Youth Day, celebrated over the weekend. Over 800 students attended the training.

Reputable speakers and leadership coaches trained the students. Other activities that marked the training included the rap battle, eating competition, spoken word, dance competition and football matches. There was also the award of prizes and medals.

The future is now

The Vice Chancellor of YIBs, Prof Elizabeth Tamajong, said at the institution, they believe the future is now. The renowned researcher, and academic said there is need for students to adopt certain core values to succeed in life.

Students, she said, must start thinking about their future now. She urged them to seek innovative ways to achieve success.

The Vice Chancellor restated that: “This is to ensure that when they get out there, they will succeed”.

While cautioning the students, she said “most of them want to be rich. And at the end, they fall into the traps of scammers or other persons who promise them heaven on earth”.

She urged the students to “be patient, honest, humble, transparent, and have self-confidence. It is important that they know the right from wrong. These are the virtues that they need,” to succeed.

Building self-esteem

Resource person at the training, Peter Ngu Tayong, Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Coach and Trainer at Centre for Leadership, TCLD, said students must believe in themselves and have a vision of what they want to become.

Ngu Tayong drilled the students of YIBS on how to be successful entrepreneurs. The leadership coach focused his presentation on “increasing self-esteem for youth development”. He urged them to dismiss doubts and procrastination.

Talking about the need for the students to believe in themselves, Ngu Tayong told The Guardian Post that: “This is because the moment you have self believe; it automatically enables you to do an audit of who you are. It helps you to know your strength and weaknesses and opportunities that will come your way”.

Self-esteem, the Leadership Coach said, “is also important,” adding that: “A woman’s best attire is her self –esteem. Without this, many people have developed fear in their lives because of low self-esteem and lack of awareness”.

The motivation for the YIBS students, Ngu Tayong added, is to make them, “rebrand themselves and have a rethink about their lives, to give themselves some worth so that they can become anything they choose to be.”

Dream big, fulfill your dreams

Speaking on the topic "Dare to dream big and fulfil your dreams", renowned author, T.G Sonffo, urged the students to be daring and adopt the power of positive thinking.

Sonffo who is Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Diamond Business Services and motivational speaker told participants to think beyond their immediate environment to be able to make a difference.

He urged them to be solution-oriented and contribute their quota to the development of the society. 

Sonffo insisted that the chain of their lives is not in the hands of the government. He charged the students to abstain from irrelevant activities on social media. 

“I am happy that the president was able to set such a platform because this to me is, actually more important than building capacities. The motivation behind my message is that of change,” he stated.

The resource person stated that in the quest for change, sometimes, some people spend, “time blaming other people for being responsible for what we are going through. So, it was important to call their attention to the fact that the change we want to see is actually in our hands. We need a chance and that change can only come when we redefine our thinking pattern.”

Students salute training

Reacting to the training, some students of the Yaounde International Business School said the knowledge acquired will be beneficial in their lives and careers.

According to Chimbom Frederick, a first-year accounting student, the   training has given him a new perspective.

“I have learnt a lot. It will help me to better plan for my future and become a better tomorrow. I think it will have a lot of impact on my career in the long run as I get into the field of business,” Chimbom noted.

Another student, Ngwayi Velma, told The   Guardian Post that: “It is a welcomed initiative. When I came to YIBS, I had a lot of doubt. I have really learnt a lot. This will go a long way to help me in my career and in my life as well. It has helped me to realise my vision and work towards it”.