Schneider Electric has embarked on a mission to equip youths for a sustainable energy future with a commitment to train one million individuals in energy management and industrial automation by 2025.

Access to Education Coordinator, Schneider Electric, Nigeria, Funmilayo Olakitan, said the initiative is in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), noting that according to United Nations, more than 1.8 billion people aged between 10- and 24-years account for 1-in-6 people worldwide, and almost 90 per cent of them live in developing countries.

Therefore, there is an urgency to equip young people with relevant and upgradable skills to become the next generation of energy leaders. “Schneider Electric’s youth empowerment mission aligns with the two Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Quality Education, and Decent Work and Economic Growth, this strategic alignment reinforces the company’s dedication to fostering long-lasting impact through education and meaningful employment opportunities, “A recent stride towards achieving this goal is our collaboration with the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB) that has a curriculum they operate for training and in partnership with Schneider Electric, we aim to train 5000 youths in five years.

Similarly, a partnership was recently signed with the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) to train over 1800 youths in five years,” she said. Reflecting on Schneider Electric’s empowerment mission, Marketing Communications Manager, Schneider Electric West Africa, Omobolanle Omotayo said the firm created the electricians training program and equipped 300 unemployed youths, in partnership with the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), and the French Development Agency (AFD), to improve the quality of domestic and commercial electrical installations.

She noted that the collaboration between Schneider Electric and the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur International Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) was made resulting in a solar training program tailored for underprivileged Nigerians across three training centers: Railway Technical Institute (RTI), Yaba College of Technology, and ETIWA Vocational Training School.

Olakitan further said the partnerships with institutions on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Covenant University, University of Lagos, Don Bosco Ghana, and Village Exchange Ghana have helped in equipping students who want to acquire training in sustainable energy solutions.