Global electronics leader, Samsung Electronics West Africa has commenced its Launching People initiative through its Employee Volunteer Program held recently. The company which prides itself in manufacturing cutting edge products, used this avenue to provide a platform to prepare Nigerian youths for the future.
Brovo Kim, Managing Director, Samsung West Africa highlighted the importance of helping young people harness their skills so they can access better opportunities in life and be better equipped for leadership positions in the country. He stated that providing platforms for honing such skills and mentoring young people is what informed the unique approach of the Samsung Employee Volunteer Program.
The maiden edition of the Employee Volunteer Program took place at the Samsung Engineering Academy in Agidingbi, Lagos. Selected beneficiaries of this initiative drawn from Samsung Engineering Academy were paired with mentors who are professionals in different sectors of the economy currently working with Samsung.
The mentors will guide the selected beneficiaries over a period of time to enhance their understanding of real work situation and how to respond and manage their affairs after their training programme at the academy.
Launching People is an affirmation of our commitment to the socio-economic development of Nigeria. The array of programmes will enable our employees inspire Samsung Engineering Academy students to succeed in the global economy through the application of their skills, experience and resources,” said Mr. Kim, adding: “With the quality of talents at Samsung Electronics West Africa, students and other stakeholders will benefit immensely from this intervention.”
The Launching People initiative will have sessions on entrepreneurship, leadership and ethics, among several others. Samsung volunteers will guide the 112 beneficiaries of the initiative through the various sessions, helping the students to improve their leadership skills and work readiness, as well as encourage them to set goals and prepare to achieve them.
Each mentee will be paired with a mentor for upward of one year starting October. The mentors will be drawn from various fields that include engineering, marketing, law, procurement, management, communications, finance amongst others.
Mr. Charles Ojei, Director, Enterprise Business, Samsung Electronics West Africa, said that Launching People initiative will provide a unique opportunity to increase employee awareness and interest in civic duty, and community issues, as well as create a sustainable platform through which Samsung employees can provide much-needed mentoring and support to students of the engineering academy.
Speaking on the initiative, a beneficiary Ms Ezeoke Faith Augustine said she is now better informed on how to prepare for the future. “I have learnt the five pillars of business which are envision, enlist, embark, execute and evolve. I also learnt how to build up a business on my own with or without assistance,” she added.
Launching People initiative comes on the back of several Samsung’s Corporate Citizenship initiatives. Only recently, the company launched its first Digital Village in Oban, Cross River State, which consists of five key integrated solutions that work together to benefit the community in the delivery of health care services, education and employment. These initiatives are geared towards accelerating the socio-economic development of Nigeria and her people, Ojei concluded.