Consistent with FirstBank’s thought leadership philosophy and commitment to drive sustainable capacity building, the Bank’s GMD/CEO, Bisi Onasanya will be participating in the C-suite forum on “Leading by Empowering: Youth, Skills Training and Unemployment in a Changing Economy” at the Africa CEO Roundtable. Hosted by the Bank through the FirstBank Sustainability Centre, the forum is scheduled to hold at Oriental Hotel, Lagos on September 29, 2015 from 9.00am.
The event will convene captains of industry and key influencers to discuss the strengths and limitations of education and skills training for work in Nigeria. It will also focus on how corporate responsibility and sustainability intervention can more effectively support youth skills training and employment in the nation. These deliberations around youth empowerment and unemployment will help achieve a shared, secure and sustainable future for all.
Through this high level CEO Roundtable, Nigerian/African companies will have a forum from which to catalyze business action in support of UN goals and issues with emphasis on collaborative action. The roundtable also aims to encourage youth empowerment in Nigeria and advance the Sustainable Development Education Goals.
In a statement by the GMD/CEO of FirstBank, Bisi Onasanya, the Bank would continue to support initiatives that will create opportunities for the advancement of skill acquisition and capacity building for the Nigerian youth. ““Our desire is to see our strategic and need driven youth empowerment interventions culminate in equipping Nigerian youths for a bright future”, he said.
He further stated that the bank will continue to drive the discourse on enhancing youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and tackling some of the challenges faced by youths in their pursuit of good education, research development , small and medium scale enterprises, ICT, etc.
Other CEOs expected to be in attendance at the forum include Mr. Osagie Okunbor, Country Chair Shell Companies Nigeria, Mr. Lazarus Angbazo MD/CEO General Electric, Mr. Michael Ikpoki MD/CEO MTN Nigeria and Prof Pai Obanya of Institute of Education University of Ibadan amongst a host of other MDs/CEOs from leading organisations.