Promasidor Nigeria Limited has restated its commitment to the development of Nigerian youth through support for initiatives that enhance their growth and wellbeing. These include Promasidor Harness Your Dream, Cowbellpedia Secondary School Mathematics TV Quiz Show and Loya Swim Meet.
Delivering his welcome address at the fifth edition of Promasidor Harness Your Dream in Calabar on Wednesday, Promasidor’s Head of Legal and Corporate Communications, Mr Andrew Enahoro said that the projects were informed by the desire to stimulate children mentally and intellectually.
“We realise that it is important at an early age to address career choices. Always best to start with the basics, which is why this initiative (Promasidor Harness Your Dream) is targeted at JSS3 students. It is at that stage they need to know whether they want to be science, arts or commercial-inclined,” Enahoro explained.
He said that since Promasidor’s products are available pan-Nigeria, its projects such as Cowbellpedia Secondary School Mathematics competition are also executed pan-Nigeria. “Rest assured therefore that we are going to go round the country with Harness Your Dream,” he told newsmen in Calabar.
“We started Harness Your Dream as a pilot scheme in Lagos in November 2017 and we have done one edition per school term since then, which has taken us to Ogun and Enugu States as well as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. This year, we have started with Cross River State. In the next three to four years, we would have covered many more states,” Enahoro further said.
The Calabar edition, which was held at West African People’s Institution (WAPI), also attracted JSS3 students of three schools within Calabar municipality. These are: Big Quo Girls’ Secondary School; Government Secondary School, Akim; and Government Secondary School, Atekong.
About 2,000 students of 15 schools have so far benefitted from the project, which is targeted at those in the final class of Junior Secondary School education, who are at the verge of choosing the subjects informed by their future career choices.
In his remarks, Cross River State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Godwin Ettah expressed gratitude to Promasidor Nigeria Limited for conceiving and sponsoring Harness Your Dream and extending it to the state, which demonstrated its belief in the future development of the young ones.
Dr Aji herself encouraged the students to take the programme seriously and not allow the efforts of Promasidor to be in vain. She admonished: “You have been taught that you have to follow that career for which you have passion, and which comes to you naturally. If you look around, job places are becoming fewer and fewer. You therefore must aim at being entrepreneurs and not dependent on white collar jobs alone. You have to thank Promasidor for this programme because many of us did not have this kind of opportunity while growing up.”
The Principal of WAPI, Mrs Mercy Etim described the participants as lucky because they now understand what was required to become successful professionals and entrepreneurs.
“We thank Promasidor and the facilitators for looking in our direction and we will be glad to have this opportunity anytime they call on us,” Etim said.
Celebrity guest, Imeh Bishop Umoh also motivated the students. The Nigerian actor and comedian, known variously as Okon Lagos or Udo Yes, urged them to take full advantage of Promasidor Harness Your Dream in their choice of career.
A Philosophy graduate of University of Uyo, who is now Special Assistant on Ethical and Social Reorientation to the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umoh said that he would not have been able to attain any height if he had not taken his education seriously and followed his passion in deciding a career. “I would have been just any funny man on the street without any prospect if I had not gone to school and be diligent in what I do. I therefore encourage you to count yourself lucky to have benefitted from Promasidor Harness Your Dream initiative,” he stated.
The facilitators – Lovejoy Onuchukwu, AboladeLiyide, Olasunbo Amusan and Michael Nwughala, all staff of Promasidor Nigeria Limited – made presentations on Personnel Management and Emerging Entrepreneurial Opportunities; Information and Communication Technology; Accounting and Business Management; and Digital Marketing.
The primary objective of “Harness Your Dreams” is to help public school students understand varieties of career options and guide them along their career paths.
