The 70 young university students and graduates who were recently taken through a two-month brainstorming session on sets of skills required for workplace have expressed their excitement on the values being impacted on them during the period.
The programme, organised by CampusLab in partnership with 234 Project, held Saturday, 30th April at the American Corner, IACD Building, Number 54, Magazine Road, Jericho, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, was described by participants as engaging and highly rewarding.
Two different projects – Community Impact and Wakanda Business Pitch – were presented by three teams, namely Marvin, Ultra and Vibranium.
In an interview with journalists, one of the trainees, Stella Oyekanmi, described the sessions as highly enriching. On one of the tasks given, Oyekanmi, who presented for Team Vibranium, said that “We worked on social violence. What prompted this project was the high rate of domestic violence in our communities these days, particularly the death of Mrs Osinachi. We thought that it was very important for us to speak up on the issue in order to sensitize the public and also create sustainable solutions.
“We have to make sure that little kids do not grow up to see these things happening in our society.”
Omotolani Ademolure, Team Lead, Marvin, said that “We handled the issue of poverty as being experienced most by women and the girl child. Government should not just focus only on other health issues. This is very important to women and girls.
“We discovered the reusable sanitary pads system and we went to Alaka community to teach teenage girls how to make and maintain them. Government can take this initiative up to help the poor. We used local fabric, thick nylon, cardboard and towel to make cheap and reusable sanitary pads.
Okoli Millicent Chinemerem, Team Lead for Ultra, said that “Our project was on Design Thinking, which is a creative approach to problem solving. We had a session with Mr Kehinde Muraina. When we went to school, we asked students about the idea of creating mobile hospital along the road to rush victims to for first aid and transportation to the hospital.
“We also asked students about making mobile security device with GPS to guide against armed robbery and rape cases. In a situation where you need help, you would just tap on the device to get help. Some of the students that we went to said that in submarine areas there is less oxygen and there is a means of getting power from gills of fish. It excites us to know that the young learners know as much. We want to raise the consciousness of younger students in problem solving.”
Ademola Osigbesan, Technical Manager, Strategic Sourcing and Supply, Unitad/WHO, the keynote speaker on the occasion, is a global health specialist who is involved in design and implementation of health projects.
In his address on the occasion, Osigbesan said that “Careers are all about adding value. Don’t hesitate; if what comes your way are jobs with six months contract, take it and give it your best. If you are the type that adds value to your organization, it would be difficult for your employers to turn you down.
“I get very upset when I see people complain. Ask yourself, how can I add value and what problem are we trying to solve here. As you go out there, there is nothing like a stupid question. Ask questions; this would help you to know better. Some of us feeI timid, but I encourage you to always ask questions aimed at solving problems.”
Speaking to some officials of a commercial bank in attendance on the occasion, he queried, “What happens to giving people loans for personal development? Buying real estate is fast becoming an old practice and the socialization of the past. Your best investment is your personal development. What idea do you have? What idea do you need? Solve the problem of your job description.”
On crossroads and rejections, he said, “There are times when you get to crossroads. You ask yourself, which job do I take? At crossroads, ask of your vision. To yourself, be truthful. If you have failed, you have failed. When rejection comes, reflect. Pull on courage and don’t let anyone make you feel inferior.
“When rejection comes – and it comes at every stage – sit back and be sure that you are powerful beyond measure. So much potential is deposited in you; you just need to manifest.”
Rev. Idowu Ogedengbe, a Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, said on the occasion that the administration in the state prioritized security, education, health care and expanding the state’s economy, to ensure quality human capital development.
In her address, Mrs Ibiyemi Ifaturoti said that “A lot had been said. What I just want to add is keep together as a group. When you get out there, it would be difficult to develop what you learnt, but hold one another’s hands to keep above the waters. You need someone that is up and doing to keep the group going.”
Omotolani Ademolure, who spoke on behalf of the trainees, said, “When you come in to replace you don’t come with the same set of tools that others have. Don’t be scared to dream big and don’t be scared to fail too. Our brains keep us safe by making us recall that we once failed but human spirit would tell you to go all out.
“There is always a good in goodbye. By taking what you have learnt. I say goodbye as you fall, goodbye as you fail, goodbye as you launch into greatness.”
In their parting shots, the 234 Project Founders, Mobolaji Sokunmi, Senior Director, Dell Computers, Texas; and Akin Akinboro, Cloud Foundation Group Lead, INDEE, Texas, said that “Some see problems while some find solutions to problems. For every problem you see, try to find a solution.”
Shedding light on the objectives of the initiative, Emeka Ossai, a Social Entrepreneur and Founder, CampusLab, said that “The Employability Incubator, our flagship workforce development programme which was launched in 2017 is designed to equip young people with the competencies required for today’s workplace. For this edition, we received over 400 applications and admitted 70 participants. These participants include fresh university graduates and undergraduates who participated in over 30 sessions facilitated by workplace professionals over the course of eight weeks.”
The edition featured business case challenge pitch; community impact challenge pitch; panel conversations; and networking and mentoring session.
Four winners, who emerged in an earlier challenge – Mayowa Hodonu from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Favour Akintunde from University of Medical Sciences, Ondo; Ifeoluwa David-Oluwole from Federal University of Technology, Akure; and Shedrack Barau from Nasarawa State University – were presented for reward on the occasion.
