Alcatel-Lucent, SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria Support Youth Empowerment Programme

On Monday, 22 April, Alcatel-Lucent and SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria organised a cheque presentation ceremony at the Oriental Hotel, in Victoria Island, Lagos, to celebrate the donation of $20 000 granted by the Alcatel-Lucent Foundation to support the organisation’s Youth Empowerment Programme, a vocational/entrepreneurship and leadership training programme for young Nigerians designed to assist youths become more self-sufficient. The event was, in the view of many who attended that ceremony, a tremendous success. Eghosa Erhumwunse, National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria, received the mock cheque from Amr K El-Leithy, President of Alcatel-Lucent for Middle East, Africa, Turkey and Azerbaijan, and Hatim Zougari, Country Manager of Alcatel-Lucent Nigeria, in the presence of staff management of both entities and of course with the attendance of our 40 employees, volunteers, mentors and the youth’s beneficiaries. The Alcatel-Lucent Foundation will support 20 young adults – including unemployed graduates, vocational trainees and final-year students – in learning entrepreneurial, leadership and life skills that will help them face day-to-day challenges and give them a jump start into the world of work. During the programme, the group will develop the attitude, behaviour, confidence and skills needed to take responsibility for building their own futures and to become successful and contributing members of society. In addition to the grant, Alcatel-Lucent Nigeria employees participate in a coaching and mentorship volunteering programme. They will assist teachers on a wide range of areas like languages (Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, English, Arabic, French), mathematics, basic science, social and civic education. Also, there will be some courses and coaching for youth employability to prepare them to jump into the professional life with lessons in English, e-mail writing, resume preparation, professional attitude, life experience in a professional environment, and so on. El-Leithy and Zougari seized the opportunity to acknowledge with enthusiasm the fantastic work of SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria and of course the great participation and efforts of our 40 volunteers, and in his turn, the SOS director, Eghosa Erhumwunse, thanked all the individuals and the Alcatel-Lucent Foundation for their support and contributions, which made the Youth Empowerment Programme a reality to enable 20 youths to undergo training in entrepreneurial and leadership skills What they said: Bishalakhi Ghosh, Director of Alcatel-Lucent Foundation, said: “One of the focus areas of the Alcatel-Lucent Foundation is on programmes that help youth from disadvantaged areas have access to training to help them prepare for life, for the business world and the future. This programme with youths from SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria is a true example of this effort, and we do believe that we can make a difference by helping them to contribute as citizens and community leaders in tomorrow’s world.” Amr K El-Leithy, President of Alcatel-Lucent for Middle East, Africa, Turkey and Azerbaijan, said: “Today, I am very proud to be here with you; I am proud because the SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria has given Alcatel-Lucent Foundation the opportunity to lend our support to their youth empowerment programme. This fantastic programme will help provide 20 young people with a head-start towards an independent life with the necessary skills to succeed professionally and become leaders in tomorrow’s world.” Hatim Zougari, Country Manager of Alcatel-Lucent Nigeria, said: “I am delighted that we can lend our support to the youth empowerment programme of SOS Children’s Villages in Nigeria. This programme will help provide these youth with a head-start towards an independent life with the professional skills necessary to succeed in a globalised world. It is really great that we can take part in changing people’s lives in the communities where we work and live.” Eghosa Erhumwunse, National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria, said: “We are delighted seeing Alcatel-Lucent as a reliable partner supporting our work with children/youth in Nigeria. It is really encouraging building synergy that is needed to empower youth to become independent and contributing members of their communities; with this vocational/entrepreneurship and leadership programme, Alcatel-Lucent is already sharing in the development of the youth communities. The coaching and mentorship volunteering programme, as well as providing assistance to teachers in Hermann Gmeiner Schools, has further reaffirmed the importance of partnership and synergy building in contributing to the development of children and youth in Nigeria.” The SOS vocational training centre was founded in 1995 and is located within the SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria, in Lagos. Over 190 trainees are currently benefiting from the wide range of programmes offered by this centre. All the programmes run by this centre are accredited by the Lagos State Ministry of Education, Department of Vocational and Private Studies. The graduate trainees undergo the Trade Test Examination, which is conducted by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity. The centre offers skills and training programmes to participants with a view to gaining meaningful employment or even helps trainees set up businesses of their own. The 20 youths to be supported by Alcatel-Lucent will be trained in vocations such as design, dressmaking, merchandising, catering and managing a poultry business, beauty shops and car mechanics. The project in Nigeria continues the Alcatel-Lucent Foundation’s long relationship with SOS Children’s Villages, having previously supported projects in India, the United States and Morocco. The Foundation’s commitment to these projects is part of Alcatel-Lucent’s initiatives worldwide to address global challenges such as digital inclusion and sustainability. The focal point of the Foundation’s activity is centred on supporting educational programmes for young people. This is further strengthened by the passion of Alcatel-Lucent employees for volunteering; investing their personal time and skills to help communities in which they live and work.