AGDC empowers Nigerian youths by providing them with the knowledge and opportunities needed to successful, thrive in the job market and realize their dreams. Our Programs equip young graduates and professionals with ICT skills; life skills as well as entrepreneurship and vocational skills.
in developing our strategies we have come to answer the question, why the high rate of unemployment in Nigeria, we have the statistics, it is neither a national malaise or a unique Nigerian feature, but we need to answer the question: WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE NIGERIAN YOUTH?
Is it a problem in our psyche? or our environment? What can be done?
Is it that there are jobs and no capable hands?
where are the jobs????
We need answers to enable us develop fresh strategies at addressing the challenge of equipping a work ready Nigerian graduate...
kindly post in your views
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
At Anthony Village Lagos, with SRD Alumni
FLASH REPORT
FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION, ANTHONY VILLAGE
29th January 2011
Opening Comments
The focus group discussion hosted by AGDC Employability & Enterprise Devt Ltd/GTE had in attendance 6 (Six) participants of the Samsung Real Dreams from streams 3&4, 5 and 6. In attendance was: Toyin Ademodi; an unemployed mother of two; Olugbosun Ariyo, a software developer; Ademoye Ayoola Damilola, a Lecturer; Olusunmade Kazeem, a school administrator; Saka Adedayo Saheed, a content developer for educational software and Ajanaku Collins, a fresh graduate and an entrepreneur. This corps of discussants selected across different streams spoke candidly on the SRD Programme, its impacts and fall-outs. They also suggested other intervention points in combating youth employability in Nigeria.
On the profiling Test
Saka: ‘The career profiling test was fantastic’; Toyin corroborated by asserting: ‘it brought out things about me I never knew anybody else could see”.
According to Damilola; a lot of people were nervous about taking the career test. People felt it was a trick assignment to sieve out people that would be placed on internship. For Stream 3&4 there was so much competition. The psychometric test was not a true test of our abilities
Samsung Real Dreams: Impacts and Complaints
For Damilola ‘What I would say about the SRD Class is that I have made lifelong friends; I have a friend living with me presently, we met at the SRD training and he has been living in my house for more than a year!
For Toyin Ajimobi: The issue with SRD is that what I learnt most was about team building. People revealed an inner strength of character in such a manner that I was amazed. People really have unseen potentials”
Through the training I received at AGDC, I have developed a great deal of confidence.
Suggestions for AGDC
Collins advices; AGDC should please work on placing all trainees on internships. Also, an endowment fund can be established to fund a microcredit scheme; the focus should not be on graduates only but also on NCE and OND graduates and entrepreneurs
Damilola; “the niche for AGDC is on developing people’s mindset”.
Hakeem: ‘AGDC cannot teach people everything but each training is a seed. The SRD training was really an eye-opener’.
AGDC needs to ignite the initial push in entrepreneurs, (at this time Saka interrupts; what do you mean by initial push? Business writing skills?
Hakeem; I mean, inspiring us to break the fear of starting; to take initiative.
Graduation Ceremony
Hakeem”; a graduation ceremony is necessary, I once went for an interview and they requested for a proof of my attendance of the training, which I couldn’t provide. We need our certificates.”
Lessons Learnt
Olubusayo
“I learnt a lot about project planning and implementation and how to excel at any task given to me. Before SRD, I didn’t have confidence in myself, but learning about personal branding at the SRD training programme, changed my perception of myself”.
Hakeem:” The first thing I learnt at the SRD was self confidence, especially when I was asked to pray. Also, I learnt fresh presentation skills. When I got back to my teaching job, even the student testified of a change in my teaching style. Also, from Mrs Ibukun Awosika, I learnt a lot about integrity and values”.
Final Word for AGDC:
Hakeem: “There is a sort of pride in Nigerian youth; every Nigerian graduate has a mindset issue. It is not all about the grades. AGDC operates in an environment that has little or no value for its younger generation. Thus, AGDC must thus define the age category for its catchment population; there should be a certain age strata and focus should be on developing their potentials.’ AGDC Also needs government support and the best way to do it is to design a project to coincide with government objectives.
.
FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION, ANTHONY VILLAGE
29th January 2011
Opening Comments
The focus group discussion hosted by AGDC Employability & Enterprise Devt Ltd/GTE had in attendance 6 (Six) participants of the Samsung Real Dreams from streams 3&4, 5 and 6. In attendance was: Toyin Ademodi; an unemployed mother of two; Olugbosun Ariyo, a software developer; Ademoye Ayoola Damilola, a Lecturer; Olusunmade Kazeem, a school administrator; Saka Adedayo Saheed, a content developer for educational software and Ajanaku Collins, a fresh graduate and an entrepreneur. This corps of discussants selected across different streams spoke candidly on the SRD Programme, its impacts and fall-outs. They also suggested other intervention points in combating youth employability in Nigeria.
On the profiling Test
Saka: ‘The career profiling test was fantastic’; Toyin corroborated by asserting: ‘it brought out things about me I never knew anybody else could see”.
According to Damilola; a lot of people were nervous about taking the career test. People felt it was a trick assignment to sieve out people that would be placed on internship. For Stream 3&4 there was so much competition. The psychometric test was not a true test of our abilities
Samsung Real Dreams: Impacts and Complaints
For Damilola ‘What I would say about the SRD Class is that I have made lifelong friends; I have a friend living with me presently, we met at the SRD training and he has been living in my house for more than a year!
For Toyin Ajimobi: The issue with SRD is that what I learnt most was about team building. People revealed an inner strength of character in such a manner that I was amazed. People really have unseen potentials”
Through the training I received at AGDC, I have developed a great deal of confidence.
Suggestions for AGDC
Collins advices; AGDC should please work on placing all trainees on internships. Also, an endowment fund can be established to fund a microcredit scheme; the focus should not be on graduates only but also on NCE and OND graduates and entrepreneurs
Damilola; “the niche for AGDC is on developing people’s mindset”.
Hakeem: ‘AGDC cannot teach people everything but each training is a seed. The SRD training was really an eye-opener’.
AGDC needs to ignite the initial push in entrepreneurs, (at this time Saka interrupts; what do you mean by initial push? Business writing skills?
Hakeem; I mean, inspiring us to break the fear of starting; to take initiative.
Graduation Ceremony
Hakeem”; a graduation ceremony is necessary, I once went for an interview and they requested for a proof of my attendance of the training, which I couldn’t provide. We need our certificates.”
Lessons Learnt
Olubusayo
“I learnt a lot about project planning and implementation and how to excel at any task given to me. Before SRD, I didn’t have confidence in myself, but learning about personal branding at the SRD training programme, changed my perception of myself”.
Hakeem:” The first thing I learnt at the SRD was self confidence, especially when I was asked to pray. Also, I learnt fresh presentation skills. When I got back to my teaching job, even the student testified of a change in my teaching style. Also, from Mrs Ibukun Awosika, I learnt a lot about integrity and values”.
Final Word for AGDC:
Hakeem: “There is a sort of pride in Nigerian youth; every Nigerian graduate has a mindset issue. It is not all about the grades. AGDC operates in an environment that has little or no value for its younger generation. Thus, AGDC must thus define the age category for its catchment population; there should be a certain age strata and focus should be on developing their potentials.’ AGDC Also needs government support and the best way to do it is to design a project to coincide with government objectives.
.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Look At Me Now!
Beyond employabilty and enterprise training, AGDC inspires participants in its programmes to ' Pay-It-Forward'. We have so many people who have attended our trainings are change agents in their respective communities and organisations......
Within the thick rainforest, meandering creeks associated with so much violence and poverty in the Nigerian Niger Delta region, Bankole Taiwo is inspiring youths to a greater tomorrow.................
thevisionariesacademy.org
Within the thick rainforest, meandering creeks associated with so much violence and poverty in the Nigerian Niger Delta region, Bankole Taiwo is inspiring youths to a greater tomorrow.................
THE ORGANIZATION
The Visionaries Academy (TVA) has a proven track record of gross achievement in Youth Development Programs in the Niger- Delta region in less than 8 months of her existence. TVA is responsible for the Management and Organization of Green clubs in different Secondary schools across the region, TVA has organized green initiatives which saw to the inauguration of Green Ambassadors also known as Climate Champions in collaboration with the Nigerian Youth Climate Coalition (NYCC) Abuja, Building Nigeria’s Response to Climate Change, BNRCC, also, Youth Internship programs tagged Before Graduation which has seen to the placement of young undergraduates in different internship positions and also, the epoch making 1st Summer Technology camp in Delta State tagged ICT4Youths which saw to the inauguration of ICT Ambassadors for various schools in different regions. Our core values include Accountability, Integrity and Delivery and we also have a board of advisors consisting of reputable and integrity-profiled personalities including Chief (Mrs) Ochuko Orogun of Delta Broadcasting Service who has been profiled as one of Delta State’s greatest activist on Integrity and Accountability, Mrs. Ufuoma Ajuwa, a Senior Information Civil Service Worker attached to the Warri-South LGA. So far, we have had partnerships and collaboration with Institutions and organizations such as Microsoft Nigeria, Paradigm Initiative, Delta Broadcasting Service, Warri-South Local Government Council, Uvwie Local Government Council, Ministry of Education.
thevisionariesacademy.org
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
SRD Participants' Speak: Pictures
Raymond: "we need a shift in values"
Kemi; Stressing the importance of re-orientation of Nigerian youths.AGDC Samsung Real Dreams Project: Participants Speak
FLASH REPORT
Samsung Real Dreams Evaluation
Focus Group Discussion- Ikeja
22 January 2011
This is an elementary report on the evaluation project for Samsung Real Dreams Program (SRD); hosted by AGDC Employability and Enterprise Ltd/GTE. Please note that the social report, which will be an aggregate of all FGDs, telephone interviews, site-visits and the stakeholders’ forum resolution, would be the final report for this evaluation project.
Opening Comments: Facilitating the focus group discussion, Jennifer Joel, welcomed the discussants, outlining the purpose of the chat and the aim of AGDC to assess the impact of the SRD training. Lessons learnt and the effects of the skills learnt on improving employability and promotion of the entrepreneurial spirit.
Discussion:
SRD: The training Vs The Real World: Oluokun Halimat Sadiyat; ‘the training at SRD was great, I would recommend for every graduate. For me, the problem with the Nigerian graduate is illiteracy; the average Nigerian youth does not have a deep drive for self-improvement. Life does not give you anything; you get what you bargain for. The SRD programme made me realize, it is the value, passion and enthusiasm you have that matters’. It has been a tremendous help. At the training, I got a renewed sense of self awareness, which helped me in getting my
Halimat, highlighted the importance of personal drive, which she believes the Samsung real Dreams seek to inspire in every of its participant. Furthermore, Adebena kemi, corroborated this fact but reiterated the need for continual retraining of young graduates, in her words; ‘ maybe you can force a horse to the stream, but not force it to drink, but AGDC would just have to find creative ways to force this knowledge into every participant, really ( AGDC has to ) just help us’.
Efegoroma Raymond, viewed the problem of employability as two-pronged, he believes there are a high number of employable youths but the jobs are not really there. He also complained of the high incidence of favoritism and in job placements; where the individual with the most powerful referee gets the job. At SRD, he learnt the value of purpose and integrity. Picking from the session delivered by Pastor Poju Oyemade, Raymond stated, ‘I learnt something very important, you can be the one to do the right thing, if you do not, somebody in the same circumstances with you, could have given the same excuse but decided to meet the deadline”
Combating Youth unemployment, all discussants agreed on a singular point; the need for a new value system for Nigerian youth. The following interventions were proposed.
Employability training for First year university students- Halimat; “ this would help inculcate at the start of their studies a mindset for knowledge and entrepreneurship, which would translate to a desire for knowledge beyond the needs to get good grades and graduate with a 2:1”
Kemi; I believe we should start from the junior secondary school, by the time a student passes through secondary education, his study options are already streamlined, depending on the department he finished from in secondary school. Most schools have Art, Commercial and Science departments, although some private secondary schools include Technical and Social Science departments. We need to let them know that it is not just about the grades, we need to inform them in making healthy career choices. If I had taken the psychometric test I took at the SRD programme in my Junior secondary school, I would have studied a different course in the university,
Raymond proposes an active participation in the National Youths Corps Orientation Programme by AGDC,’ fine, we know they have passed through the faulty system. However, what better place to start re-orientation young graduates than the NYSC orientation Camp?
Concluding comments: A general trend in this discussion was the emphasis on values learnt. The discussants graded as important the values taught in the SRD training more than skills. One skill mentioned by all participants was interview and presentation skills, which is tied to a deep sense of self-awareness and self-esteem. A major ingredient for success identified in any workplace or vocation was drive, coupled with the willingness to learn, contribute and use of innovation.
A personal observation is a deep understanding by all participants on the divergence between having a job and a career, this understanding have formed the basis for the jobs or vocations of all the participants. Beyond rhetoric, the Samsung Real Dreams Project of AGDC has transformed the mindset of these participants.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Our Call to Action!
" Between 2009 and 2011, about 13 million youths will be requiring productive employment. Administrative data shows that Nigeria generates 4.5 million new entrants into the labour market annually" ( Federal Ministry of Youth Employment)
"71 Percent of Nigerian graduates are like bad cheeries, won't be picked by any employer of labour because they are not fit for anything even if they were the only one that put themselves forward for an employment test". ( Charles Soludo, Central Bank of Nigeria governor, 2009)
With the scenario painted above, we at AGDC decided to chart a fresh course of action in addressing the issue of youth employability in Nigeria. For 3 years we have been igniting enterprise, promoting productivity and inspiring employability.
To stay informed on our projects and other interventions, follow this site, especially if you are Young and Nigerian!
"71 Percent of Nigerian graduates are like bad cheeries, won't be picked by any employer of labour because they are not fit for anything even if they were the only one that put themselves forward for an employment test". ( Charles Soludo, Central Bank of Nigeria governor, 2009)
With the scenario painted above, we at AGDC decided to chart a fresh course of action in addressing the issue of youth employability in Nigeria. For 3 years we have been igniting enterprise, promoting productivity and inspiring employability.
To stay informed on our projects and other interventions, follow this site, especially if you are Young and Nigerian!
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