Determined to address the emerging opportunity divide among young people and close the gap between those who are prospering and others who are struggling because of lack the education, skills and opportunities they need to succeed, Microsoft through the Youthspark initiative is set to help create new opportunities for 300 million youth in 100 countries over the next three years.
Speaking at the Launch of this initiative at the National Youth Service Corp Lagos camp over the weekend, Ugochukwu Nwosu, citizenship and partners in learning manager said the YouthSpark programme was embarked on to empower youth by strengthening education; giving youth inspiration and tools to imagine new opportunities; and to help them realise new employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Nwosu, while speaking at the event pledged Microsoft’s commitment through the partners in learning programme to train every corp member that is posted to schools in Nigeria by providing them a training platform and doing one-on-one training in various places.
According to him, “we are trying to work with NYSC to see that when corpers are posted to schools, they don’t feel bad that they are posted to school by empowering them to become good teachers using technology and a better knowledge of pedagogy.” He noted that through other initiatives like the dream spark, biz spark and ‘build your own business’ curriculum, youths can get training that will help them become job creators.
Nwosu further revealed that Microsoft will through their partner, Mind the Gap Organisation, enable NYSC access to the employability portal where corp members can take courses that will help them in their career decisions.
On her part, Adenike Adeyemi, state coordinator NYSC for Lagos State noted that NYSC scheme build the capacity of corp members at the end of the service year.
Adeyemi revealed that corp members are expected to be self reliant after they have completed their service year.
She pointed out through skills acquisition which is paramount to NYSC, corp members can translate the skills they acquired during their service year into a business to create wealth not only for themselves, but also be employers of labour.
The state coordinator expressed satisfaction that the partnership with Microsoft through Mind the Gap Organisation, the gap of unemployment being experienced in the country will be bridged.
