Lagos, Nigeria, August 2021 – Twenty-one years after the first ViMP class was inaugurated by Junior Achievement Nigeria (JA Nigeria) in a partnership with Lagos Business School (LBS), the program is still preparing university graduates for successful entry into the world of work. 

The 21st edition which is proudly funded by Parthian Partners is a one-week intensive program that introduces 100 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. 

For the first time ever, the program was implemented in a hybrid model, giving more opportunities to reach more graduates than the previous years. The week-long program 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. The curriculum includes stimulating classroom sessions, case studies, panel discussions, networking, study groups, guest speakers and recreation, culminating in a strategy workshop, during which the participants will present solutions to real-world case studies.

ViMP 2021 was implemented with the support of some notable organizations including Verraki Partners, Channels Television and City FM 105.1. Due to the support of our various sponsors and partners, the prestigious program has continued to remain free to all participants.

Commenting on the program, the Executive Director, Junior Achievement Nigeria, Foluso Gbadamosi, said – 

“For us at JA Nigeria, the Venture in Management Program was conceived with the goal of creating a transformational experience for selected National Youth Service Corp members and/or recent graduates every year. According to a survey by Oliver Wyman which was tailored towards examining the employability gaps among Africans, results showed that youths needed to improve in diverse skills such as digital skills, communication, critical thinking, teamwork and get work experience to be job-ready. This program bestows young graduates with all of these and more. I would like to thank the sponsor, Parthian Partners, for enabling us to equip young people with these crucial life skills they need for success.”

Adekemi Akinyede, Head, Human Resources, Parthian Partners said:

“We are delighted to have partnered with Junior Achievement Nigeria for the 2021 Venture in Management Program (ViMP).  The career-defining experience for the participants has created a high impact on them to become ethical business leaders who will successfully run their own businesses or manage already established businesses.

This for us clearly reinforces our commitment to apply our core competencies and resources towards creating and supporting platforms that give young people access to information, skills, networks, and other resources they require to develop potential and build future relevant capabilities that are necessary for broad socio-economic development.”

One of the outstanding female participants at ViMP 2021, Praise Babalola, said – 

“One of the best decisions I made was applying to the Venture in Management program and getting in. Although the program has ended, I still visit my notes like I took the classes yesterday. From branding to making effective presentations to digital marketing opportunities to the future of work and many more, I find myself applying all that I have learned at every opportunity I get. “

One of the outstanding male participants at ViMP 2021, Hakeem Akiode, said – 

“My experience at the ViMP’21 can be likened to that of a swimmer who comes above water to get oxygen, so he can continue. ViMP is that oxygen for me. And thanks to Junior Achievement Nigeria, I have received the right skills, mindset and network to proceed to the next phase of my career. I am thankful to JAN for this opportunity, and I cannot wait to share what I have learned with my immediate community.”

Commenting on the Venture in Management Program, Femi Taiwo, Executive Director, LEAP Africa who is also a 2010 ViMP alumnus said – 

 

“I am a proud ViMP alum. The ViMP experience was amazing. I was privileged to have attended a very good higher institution, but I attended ViMP and I saw another level of excellence. The network I built then has contributed immensely to my career trajectory and growth; it set me up for my career. One very key thing I took away from ViMP and which has stuck with me to date is the pursuit of excellence. No matter the constraint, excellence must be at the forefront.”

Over the past 21 years, ViMP has graduated over 1000 alumni who are now leading businesses and social enterprises and participating actively in government. Some notable alumni include: Tunji Eleso, Adenike Adeyemi, Chienye Ogwo, Gbenga Sesan, Femi Taiwo, Toyosi Adekoya, Zeal Akaraiwe, and Christina Olusile among others.

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About Junior Achievement Nigeria

Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN) is part of Junior Achievement Worldwide (JAWW), the world’s largest and fastest-growing non-profit economic education organization with a 120-country network. Since its inception in 1999, JAN has reached over one million students in over 20,000 classrooms in all the 36 states across the country and the FCT through over 5000 volunteers. As part of a global network, JAN can leverage resources and expertise to deliver localized cutting-edge experiential programs built on JAWW’s three pillars of work Readiness, Entrepreneurship, and financial literacy, to in- and out-of-school youths, ages 5 to 27, free of charge.

For more information, visit www.ja-nigeria.org

About Parthian Partners

Parthian Partners Limited (PPL) is Nigeria’s foremost indigenous Inter-dealer brokerage firm, with a wide range of clients cutting across local and foreign Banking Institutions, asset managers, Insurance companies, Pension Fund Administrators, Corporates and Development Organizations.

We promote the values of diligence, integrity, excellence, and teamwork, which we believe are vital to individual, organizational and national upward mobility. Parthian Partners is fast-paced, results-oriented, and we leverage heavily on technology to optimize our business processes as we strive to be exceptional market intermediaries. 

For more information, visit www.parthianpartnersng.com