South Sudanese president tells university graduates of “limited jobs”
April 28, 2015 (JUBA) – Over three thousand South Sudanese university graduates have been told by President Salva Kiir to look for jobs in the private sector as government is unable to employ them.
“While we welcome the new graduates in the club of employment, I encourage you to work not only in the government but especially in the private sector so that you can use your talent to develop this nation,” president Kiir told the graduates.
It is the first graduation held at the university in twelve years. The last graduation event was in 2003 but many students have been graduating at faculty levels, taking their degree certificates without formal ceremonies organized by the university.
President Kiir insisted that there was no enough work opportunities for the citizens in a country where international organizations employ foreigners.
“I want to assure you the graduates that the positions in the government offices are very limited. If any one of you thinks that he/she will be appointed a minister tomorrow, then things will not go well with you,” he said.
Unemployment in South Sudan is the worst in the region with the young nation currently threatened by economic collapse due to the ongoing civil war which resulted to reduction in production of the main revenue generating resource – the oil. Sharp fall in global oil prices also factors in.
The forty year old Juba University, established in 1975, is one of South Sudanese five national universities. Tuesday marked the first time a South Sudanese university has awarded various bachelor decrees, masters and PhD on its soil since independence from Sudan in 2011.
Degrees in laws, medicine and other disciplines were awarded to more than 3,000 students.
(ST)