8th June, 2012
In furtherance of Etisalat’s employee corporate social responsibility, CSR, scheme, the telecoms company last week held the sixth edition of its career counselling session aimed at guiding students to make good career choices.
The initiative which is in partnership with Lagos Empowerment and Resource Network (LEARN) played host to students of eight Lagos State secondary schools in District VI, Oregun Junior and Senior High Schools, Ikeja Junior and Senior High Schools, Opebi Junior and Senior Grammar Schools and Agidingbi Junior and Senior Grammar Schools.
The Etisalat career counselling scheme provides secondary schools students with constructive knowledge regarding career paths in preparation for tertiary education. The session with the theme, “Partnering for the Future”, was attended by over 400 students.
Speaking at the event, Mrs Adeola Idowu, Director, Legal Service, who represented the CEO of Etisalat, said the career counselling session was part of the company’s CSR initiatives spanning education, health and the environment.
“The career counselling scheme is our internal CSR project and commitment to education development in Nigeria. It is our way of providing guidance on future career paths to secondary schools, while showing our brand values of caring, optimism and simplicity to Nigerian youths,” she said.
Adeolu restated Etisalat Nigeria’s commitment to empowering the Nigerian youth, noting that the programme has provided the employees the opportunity to fulfil their desire of impacting the society positively.
The Assistant Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Youth, Sport Development and Social Welfare, Mr. Biodun Ogunrinde, commended Etisalat for the initiative which he said provides unique opportunities for youths to learn from professionals what it takes to make informed career choices in order to become successful individuals.
Making good career choices, he said, is the only way they can better their lives and contribute to the country’s development.
The Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary, District 6, Mrs F.B. Ogunlana, emphasised the importance of harnessing their talents and best resources such as the career counselling session, in bringing out the best in them.
She encouraged the students to recognise their raw talent, as it was a tool that must be structured for good use. She commended Etisalat Nigeria for the programme.
According to her, “Etisalat has shown that it is not just a GSM company but Nigeria’s leading advocate of corporate social responsibility, especially in education”.
The Director, LEARN, Bisi Awoyomi, echoed similar sentiments, adding that LEARN which has its own career counselling policy, has been making even better impact since it partnered with Etisalat.
By Henry Ojelu