JAN, KPMG partner to train students with leadership, STEM skills

As part of an effort to prepare young people for future relevance, Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN) said it has partnered KPMG Nigeria to implement ‘JA Career Success Programme’ to boost young people in secondary schools with the needed skills to positively impact their communities.

The programme, according to them, will equip young people with the skills needed to earn and keep a job in high-growth career industries. This was contained in a statement issued by JAN’s in Lagos.

According to the statement, the JA Career Success programme will run for seven weeks, and it is targeted to build the job readiness skills of young people in senior secondary schools using a JA Nigeria-developed curriculum.

The group said beneficiaries of the programme would be exposed to the training in the needed skills for employment in today’s job market that would aid in improved decisions for their future.

The statement reads “In a world competing for the creativity of the best minds, preparing young people to thrive in such a competitive world has become extremely important more than ever. That is why this programme covers key areas and top skills that prepare young people with the skills and knowledge needed to start and thrive in the career world.

“They include skills like the 4Cs – critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity. Others are strong soft skills, work priorities, STEM, personal branding, job-hunting tools, resumes, cover letters, interviews, digital profiles and skills needed in high-growth/fast-paced industries.”

Commenting on the partnership, the Executive Director of Junior Achievement Nigeria, Foluso Gbadamosi, said: “We are driven by the need to constantly nurture and expand the potential of young Nigerians as we prepare them not only to become locally competitive but also thrive on a global stage.

“This partnership with KPMG Nigeria gives us another opportunity to reach more Nigerian youth with our transformational curriculum thereby impacting them with entrepreneurial, work readiness and STEM skills.”

Gbadamosi added that, “87 per cent of the students that completed the programme in the last implementation of the ‘JA Career Success’ realised the importance of staying in school.

“So, we believe in our student’s ability to successfully perform tasks and achieve outcomes as reflected in JA’s Theory of Change – self-efficacy, we have the responsibility to teach young people new things and ultimately help them to build thriving communities. I would like to thank KPMG for partnering with us to prepare the next generation for employment and entrepreneurship even as we continue to contribute to the attainment of UN SDG 1, and 4”, she added.

Also, the Senior Partner, KPMG West Africa, Mr Tola Adeyemi said, it’s firm would remain committed to inspire and boost confidence in young people to becoming business leaders and positive change agents.

Adeyemi said: “KPMG is committed to inspiring confidence and empowering change. This is why we are so passionate about the work we are doing with Junior Achievement Nigeria to empower young people with the potential to become the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, business leaders and change makers.