Samsung electronics West Africa has partnered with Eko Project, has launched the third Samsung electronic engineering academy in Lagos, Nigeria, as part of its goal o develop 10000 electronics engineers across Africa by 2015.
Eko Project is a World Bank initiative which is aimed at improving the quality of public secondary education.
The Academy was opened by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN in company of commissioners of education, science and technology and other senior officials of the State including Samsung system leadership and partners in Nigeria.
“Our aim is to promote co-operation, innovation, wealth creation and to facilitate thought leadership in the communities in which we operate in response to their real needs and conditions,” said Nicholas Shin the Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa.
“The Samsung Engineering Academy programme is our flagship CSR initiative undertaken in response of the need to develop a skilled workforce of technicians who will become service experts empowered to create wealth. Samsung, as a quality service-oriented company, aims to link CSR activities with our business goal of sustaining our level of innovation. This can only be achieved if we invest in quality education to empower the youth”, he adds.
The Samsung Electronics Engineering Academy, equipped with the latest electronics, is aimed at addressing the shortage of technical and engineering skills in Nigeria by providing hands-on, vocational skills training for secondary school students.
The Academy will initially admit 60 students. Upon completion of the programme, graduating students are automatically eligible for an internship at Samsung’s channel partners. Outstanding performers will have the opportunity to work as independent service technicians or employees in the company’s retail channel outlets. They also stand a chance of being selected to participate in a year-long leadership opportunity at Samsung Electronics’ headquarters in South Korea as part of the 100 African Young Leaders program.
Samsung started the first phase of academies in South Africa in March 2011. The South African Academy officially ended its pilot phase when the first class of students graduated in January, 2012. In February, a second Academy was launched in Kenya.