Cross River State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Godwin Ettah has commended Promasidor Nigeria Limited for its commitment to the career growth of Nigerian youth through the Promasidor Harness Your Dream project.
The Commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr (Mrs) Perpetua Aji at the Calabar edition of the initiative held in Calabar on Wednesday, said that Promasidor has demonstrated its belief in the future development of the young ones through its consistency in executing the programme, which has now been organised in five locations across the country.
From its flag-off in Lagos in November 2017, Promasidor Harness Your Dream has moved to Abeokuta, Abuja, Enugu and now Calabar with direct impact on about 2,000 students of 15 schools who attended the sessions. It is targeted at students in the final class of Junior Secondary School education, who are at the verge of choosing the subjects informed by their future career choices.
The Calabar edition was hosted by West African People’s Institution (WAPI) and had students from three other schools in attendance. These are: Big Quo Girls’ Secondary School; Government Secondary School, Akim and Government Secondary School, Atekong, all within Calabar municipality.
Dr Aji further 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 also expressed gratitude to Promasidor for considering her school and students worthy of the programme. She said the participants were lucky because they now understand what they need to do 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.
The students went into a frenzy when the celebrity guest, Imeh Bishop Umoh made an appearance. The Nigerian actor and comedian, known variously as Okon Lagos or Udo Yes, urged the students to take full advantage of Promasidor Harness Your Dream in their choice of career.
Umoh, a Philosophy graduate of University of Uyo and Special Assistant on Ethical and Social Reorientation to the Akwa Ibom State Governor, said that he would have not been able to attain any height if he had not taken his education seriously and followed his passion in choosing 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.
In his welcome address, Promasidor’s Head of Legal and Corporate Communications, Mr Andrew Enahoro, who announced the company’s determination to take the initiative pan Nigeria, said the programme has helped students to make proper career choices that relates to their talents, attitude and dreams in their educational pursuits.
He said that Promasidor has been at the forefront of promoting youth development. “For 25 years, Cowbell, our flagship brand, has through its Mathematics TV Quiz Show christened Cowbellpedia, encouraged secondary school students to develop interest in the subject,” Enahoro recalled.
The facilitators – Lovejoy Onuchukwu, Abolade Liyide, 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.
