Samsung Electronics West Africa is collaborating with the Pan-African University, Afterschool Graduate Development Center and FATE Foundation to empower 560 Nigerian youths under the Samsung Real Dreams project.
The empowerment involves the provision of technical, training, internship and job placement services in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja.
Managing Director, Samsung Electronics, West Africa, Mr. Jin UK Shin said in Lagos at the weekend the programme is an offshoot of one of the seven areas of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) focus for the Samsung Group; ‘Development of Local Communities’.
He also said that the programme affords Samsung to support local communities by leveraging this existing partnership with International Youth Foundation (IYF), Pan-African University, FATE Foundation and Afterschool Graduate Development Centre, amongst others.
Samsung Real Dreams project, he said, targets the youth who are unemployed or underemployed; employers of skilled labour and the general public, stressing that one of the criteria for selection is that the applicants must be financially handicapped to realize his dreams.
“Youth fulfillment appears to be a compelling theme for Samsung especially in emerging markets like West Africa and Samsung has decided to engage in more strategic social development investments,” he said.
Mr. Shin disclosed that 5,112 applications were received while 615 of them were selected and enrolled for training progarmmes in Pan-African University, FATE Foundation and Afterschool Graduate Development Centre.
Programme coordinator, Pan-African University, Mr. Patrick Enaholo applauded Samsung for the project, which would have cost each training N250,000 in Media Design Skills on basic animation and game design, digital imaging, web design, or video editing.
He also said that 920 youth aged between 21-35 years applied from Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Abuja while only 99 were selected and trained in entrepreneurship, life skills and media design skills.
Enaholo equally said that 94 youth successfully passed all courses while they were all placed in internships or project-based learning opportunities, stressing that placement of graduates in jobs and self-employment is on-going with partnership formed with range of media industry employers.
Head, Training, FATE Foundation, Mrs. Elizabeth Olofin, said that Samsung Real Dreams actually helped the youth to get employed or become employers of labour themselves.
"It’s not about giving you fish to eat but teaching you how to fish’’ she said.
She said at FATE Foundation globally reputed for entrepreneurial training, selected youth are giving practical training where they are mentored by entrepreneurs who are highly successful in their chosen business endeavors. She added that emphasis is laid on business ethics, and values.
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