JA Nigeria, LBS deepen management capacity for 50 serving youth corp members   

Determined to produce and prepare university graduates for a successful entry into the world of work, Junior Achievement Nigeria (1A Nigeria) in a partnership with Lagos Business School (LBS) has trained 50 youth corp members in Venture in Management Programme (ViMP)

The week-long programme led by facilitators from the Lagos Business School (LBS) and some key industry leaders prepares future business leaders for the responsibilities, opportunities and demands of tomorrow’s business world.

Uchenna Uzo, MBA director, Lagos Business School while speaking at the annual ViMP Alumni mixer programme in Lagos said the 50 participants were trained under a stimulating classroom sessions, case studies, panel discussions, networking, study groups, guest speakers and recreation, culminating in a strategy workshop, during which the participants presented solutions to real-world case studies.

Simi Nwogugu, executive director, Junior Achievement Nigeria, said the 20th edition which is proudly funded by African Capital Alliance Foundation (ACA Foundation) and Total E&P Nigeria Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited is a one-week intensive mini-MBA programme aimed at introducing 50 selected members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to the different facets of managing a business, making crucial business decisions and developing skills for management.

Nwogugu while speaking at the annual ViMP Alumni mixer programme in Lagos, said the Venture in management programme (ViMP) rivals short executive education courses from the world’s top business schools with case studies focusing on Business Ethics, Accounting & Finance, Marketing, Strategy, Social Enterprise, General Management, Leadership and Entrepreneurship.

Nwogugu opines that the 50 selected participants from different universities across the country also engaged in a community service project at local primary schools as a way of teaching them to give back to the society.

She further stated that aside from funding from African Capital Alliance Foundation, Total E&P Nigeria Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited, Other partners include Verraki Partners, Channels Television and Sky Cinema. Due to the support of our various sponsors and partners, the prestigious programme has continued to remain free to all participants.

“In addition to this, our VIMP alumni engaged in the corporate world are also leading the companies’ CSR efforts and winning awards for their community service”, Nwogugu said.

Adenike Adeyemi, Executive Director, FATE Foundation (ViMP Alumnus, 2002) said the ViMP experience is a lifetime investment that keeps on yielding. The career-defining experience gave me the foundational knowledge on leadership strategy and financial management that I still use today.

The programme also strengthened my interest and passion to build a career in the non-profit sector and that’s what I currently do.

Over the past 20 years, ViMP has graduated over 950 alumni who are now leading businesses and social enterprises and participating actively in government. Some notable alumni include: Adenike Adeyemi, Executive Director, FATE Foundation; Tunji Eleso, Managing Partner, CcHub Growth Capital Fund; Ngover lhyembe-Nwankwo, Chair, Executive Council, WlMBIZ; Modupe Adefeso, Managing Director, The Education Partnership (TEP) Centre; Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative; Femi Taiwo, Executive Director, LEAP Africa and Chienye Ogwo, CEO, Africa Initiative for Governance among others.