In an effort aimed at supporting the training of youths in vocational/entrepreneurship and leadership courses in Nigeria, Alcatel-Lucent Foundation, as part of its corporate social responsibility recently donated USD $20,000 to SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria to carry out its programme.
While speaking at the cheque presentation ceremony at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos, Bishalakhi Ghosh, director, Alcatel-Lucent Foundation said one of the focus areas of the Alcatel-Lucent Foundation is on programmes that help youths from disadvantaged areas have access to training to help them prepare for life, for the business world and the future.
Ghosh said the programme with youths from SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria is a true example of this effort, and believes that organisations and individuals can make a difference by helping to contribute as citizens and community leaders in tomorrow’s world.
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 jumpstart into the world of work.
Participants at the programme in the course of learning 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.
Amr El-Leithy, president of Alcatel-Lucent for Middle-East, Africa, Turkey and Azerbaijan on his part said the partnership with SOS Children Villages in Nigeria has given Alcatel-Lucent Foundation the opportunity to lend support to youth empowerment programme.
“This fantastic programme will help provide twenty young people with a head-start towards an independent life with the necessary skills to succeed professionally and become leaders in tomorrow’s world,” he said. Eghosa Erhumwunse, national director of SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria, in his address at the occasion thanked Alcatel-Lucent for being a reliable partner and for supporting the work with children/youth in Nigeria.
According to him, “It is really encouraging building synergy that is needed to empower youth to become independent and contributing member of their community, with this vocational/entrepreneurship and leadership programme, Alcatel-Lucent is already sharing in the development of the youth communities.”
