Monday, April 11, 2011

AGDC Launches its Alumni Network!

The After School Graduate Development Centre, (AGDC) has launched an Alumni Network for all participants of its programs. Membership to this network is limited to individuals who are Samsung Real Dreams Alumni or/and individuals who have attended any of our training programs.

Membership Benefits include:

• Quarterly Online Career Newsletter
• Inclusion in AGDC recruitment Database
• Mentorship Opportunities
• Free Invitation to AGDC's roundtable discussions
• Free Invitation to AGDC Quarterly CEO Forum
• Discount for use of AGDC training facilities
• Volunteering opportunities
• Networking Opportunities
And so much more........

To register: Send a mail with your Name, Phone number, Occupation & Company to jenniferjoel@graddev.com

Monday, March 14, 2011

UNIBEN Students Thanks TY Danjuma Foundation

AGDC/TYDF UNIBEN W.I.N.G.S TRAINING PROGRAM
28th February – 4th March 2011

The W.I.N.G.S training continued into its second week and lectures kick started on Monday 28th February with facilitators; Tunde Ojikutu and Tunji Alao taking participants through; An Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Basic ICT Skills respectively. The day after, Tuesday, the duo of Tunde Ojikutu and Tunji Alao continued with topics; The Interview Process as well as Entrepreneurship and Social Networking.

At the end of day two, trainees were so appreciative of Mr Ojikutu’s class, they insisted of taking group pictures with him after the sessions. And having learnt how to manage their online image from Mr Tunji Alao, participants were in a hurry to change unprofessional e-mail addresses and implicating pictures and comments from their online profiles. It was as clear as day; attitudinal changes had occurred.

Wednesday 2nd March, the various groups into which trainees had been divided sharpened their presentation skills among others when they came up to present sector specific business proposals to the rest of their classmates. Sessions were moderated by Brian Oji who helped the ‘businessmen’ with creative and instructive ways to package their businesses in an open market for real profit.

Participants deserve commendations on how much effort they put into the entire program, groups prepared tirelessly and on presentation day most of them showed up with interesting ‘company’ branding antics. From branded bust tags to uniform outfits, the presentations were very colourful, educating and incisive. They gave me an opportunity to appraise the business intelligence of trained Nigerian graduates and like it has been proven, time and again, a little guidance can make our youths come up with wonderful solutions to our business and life problems.

Details about the groups are as follows;

S/N Group Name Leader Sector
1 Dunamis Incorporated Anjorin Babajide Social Networking
2 Strat-Net Corporation Okoh Jimoh Fashion
3 Rev X Strategies Rowland Aigbogun Banking
4 Dynamic Corporation Avwioroko David Entertainment
5 Excel Group Oghobaghase Ceasar Branding
6 Eagles Inc. Ikharea Vera Efe Social Networking
7 I-Ternal Corporation Eromosele Austin Banking
8 The Strategists Omozuwa Roland Youth Advocacy
9 Beacons Intl. Kingsley Ifoga Fashion
10 Brains Int. Incorporated Oubure Godbless Oil and Gas
11 Midas Touch Jibunoh Chinenye Education
12 Acme Alliance Onore Martins Entertainment
13 Pacesetters Inc. Dafe Steve Youth Advocacy
14 De Classique Azeke Daniel Food Services
15 Lead Giants Inc. Agbamoro Michael Oil and Gas
14 G.A.T.E Inc. Yukwe Emmanuel Youth Advocacy

Group presentations were held for all groups on Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd March 2011.
Then on Friday, despite their delayed flights (see bullet points below), facilitators; Mr Sam Gemegah and Mr Emmanuel Bright handled sessions on Small Business Accounting and Creative Thinking&problem Solving respectively.

Important Information
• Eagles Incorporated proposed an online social network that connects university students from all across the country called ; TertConnectt. They have now gone ahead to create the website online and it is live right now; the URL is http://tertconnecttt.socialgo.com/. I think that is very commendable.

• Facilitator, Tunji Alao had his 9:15 class on Basic ICT shifted to 12:15 because he missed the Arik 7:30 am flight to Benin and had to wait for the 11:30 am flight. He however explained that the delay was caused because the public address system in the wing of the Lagos local airport, where he had been sitting for over an hour before takeoff was bad. As such he did not hear the boarding announcement. Arik apologised for this and put him on the 11:30am flight without the ‘no-show’ surcharge.

• On Friday 4th March, Arik moved their regular 7:30am flight to 9:30am for logistic reasons. And two of our facilitators; Mr Sam Gemegah and Mr Emmanuel Bright were delayed therefore; they however arrived the training venue at about 11:30am to take their sessions. The early spare time was effectively utilised by participants as they watched informative videos and discussed their experiences during the training program.

• On Friday 4th March, training sessions rounded off at 3:00pm instead of the regular 1:45pm because of the facilitators’ time of arrival.

Pay-it-Forward project
Participants have been mobilised into functional groups and would start submitting their Pay-it-Forward project plans from Monday, 7th March 2011.

Internship
On the issue of Internship, over 60% of the participants would be travelling to Lagos after the training. Do we then seek internship placement for these ones in Lagos?

The second week of the Wing’s training was momentous and inspiring and all the members of my volunteer team were very agile to the vision throughout. I thank Seyi Babatunde, Adejumo Ibukun, Nkiru Nwaorgu, Egbon Edosa and Susan Chukwuedo.

In addition, I have here some feedback mails from the participants themselves; please read;

“Schools come and schools go but there would never be one like Wings!”

– Nweke McDuke (I-Ternal Corporation)

“ With heart full of gratitude I say thanks for the provision you made available to us this week. The task brought out my real potential, reminding me of my strengths and the need to maximize it. The training so far, has made me identify where and how to begin my career, giving me a good reason why I should propel forward without fear. It has really impressed upon me the need for a continuous personal appraisal evaluation of myself with a view to implementing all I am learning so as to attain the maximum benefit. For this very reason, I say THANKS A LOT.”

- Vera Efe, IKHAREA (C.E.O, Eagles incorporated)

“Before, i use to ask myself where i belong in d society but now i know or at least have an idea where i belong. Thanks to AGDC.”
– Anavenwu Mercy (The Strategists)
“I have now been upgraded to a higher level in all spheres of my life.
All thanks to AGDC. I'm being daily convinced that everything is working for my good.”
– Faith Innocent (Excel Group)

“My experience these past few days has been one filled with a series of
‘wows’ and superlatives that are a mile long. The quality of the
speakers are simply out of this world- most of them being HR heads
and top management staffs if not CEO’s. You should know that there are very few times my time has been better spent, than at this WINGS training. I remain grateful.
THANK YOU.”

- Omadudu M.Charles (The Strategists)

Monday, March 7, 2011

What is your Unique Selling Point (USP)?

In the last two weeks we have addressed the role of your resume in getting that dream job. The importance of having a good resume cannot be over-emphasized because that is your first contact with the employer. The truth is, a lot of resumes are turned down in 10 seconds flat! You need to have your resume stand out, and be noticed by the employer. Your resume must catch the attention of the employer right away. The question is; what is your unique selling point?

A major tool to market your unique selling point is your cover letter.
Cover letters are still important today, and should be sent along with your resume In your cover letter, begin with a powerful first paragraph about yourself. Have this action paragraph relate to the job at hand. Sum up your job relevant experience, your strengths that are relevant to the job, skills and accomplishments. Sell yourself quickly in the first paragraph of your cover letter. Your cover letter should be only one page in length. At the end of your cover letter, add your telephone number and your email address. This way, your telephone number and your email address will be right at hand for the employer - in the first lines of your resume, and in the last lines of your cover letter.

Having scaled through the first selection stage and you are invited for an interview, this is another opportunity to pitch yourself as the applicant of choice to the employer. Always remember; first impressions are very important. An interviewer usually forms an impression of you in less than five minutes. Make that impression a favorable one, and a memorable one. Address your strengths, the ones that show you are an excellent fit for the job and the company.
When the interviewer asks you to talk about yourself, favorably sum up your strengths and qualifications in 60 seconds or less. Talk about your five best features, the ones that show you are a good fit for the job and the company. Select selling points that state that you would be able to fulfill the company's needs. State your qualifications with confidence. Also, maintain good eye contact with the interviewer. Project yourself as Confident, Capable and Competent

To equip you with skills on how to market your unique selling point, AGDC is organizing a one-month intensive program, commencing on Mach 28 2011, to launch you from a regular graduate to a High Potential Graduate. AGDC High Potential Graduate Program (HIPO) is a management skills development program for recent graduates and young professionals. For enquiries about this program; contact Bolanle on 07029777474.

Remember! There is no second chance to make a good first impression. Always, always, sell your brand; you are a product, pitch yourself as the best and brightest! Till next week, keep on selling Brand YOU!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE NIGERIAN YOUTH?

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

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.

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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.................


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






 Halimat, making her point.



Raymond: "we need a shift in values"


                             Kemi; Stressing the importance of re-orientation of  Nigerian youths.