JA Nigeria hosts NYSC members for 2020 venture in management program

By Alao Abiodun

Twenty years after the first Venture in Management Program (ViMP) class was inaugurated by Junior Achievement Nigeria (JA Nigeria) in a partnership with Lagos Business School (LBS), 50 selected members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) were hosted in a one-week intensive mini-MBA program aimed at introducing them to the different facets of managing businesses.

The 20th edition which is proudly funded by African Capital Alliance Foundation (ACA Foundation) and Total E&P Nigeria Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited, played host to seasoned facilitators from the Lagos Business School (LBS) and some key industry leaders.

In the one-week long programme, the selected corps members were trained and enlightened on making crucial business decisions and developing skills for management. The ViMP has also graduated over 950 alumni who are now leading businesses and social enterprises and participating actively in government.

Simi Nwogugu, the Executive Director said, the programme has produced leaders in business, she further explained that leadership experience, academic excellence among other criteria were used in screening the selected participants.

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With over 1000 applications, the selected participants were screened to down to 50, Nwogugu said, “The ViMP programme has helped in creating more NGOs who are socially responsible. The progamme will help them to understand the realization of giving more and giving back. The youth corpers are the closest to the job market, this kind of programme has high impact, we have signed agreement with the federal ministry of youth and sports to sensitize and expand the programme.”

Similarly,  Dr. Uchenna Uzo, the Academic Director of VIMP at the Lagos Business School, said the training will help the participant get equipped with basic managerial skills.

According to Mrs Adenike Adeyemi, Executive Director, FATE Foundation (ViMP Alumnus, 2002), She said, “ViMP experience is a lifetime investment that keeps on yielding. The career-defining experience gave me the foundational knowledge on leadership strategy and financial management that I still use today.”

Some notable alumni of the programme include: Adenike Adeyemi, Executive Director, FATE Foundation; Tunji Eleso, Managing Partner, CcHub Growth Capital Fund; Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo, Chair, Executive Council, WIMBIZ; Modupe Adefeso, Managing Director, The Education Partnership (TEP) Centre; Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative; Femi Taiwo, Executive Director, LEAP Africa and Chienye Ogwo, CEO, Africa Initiative for Governance among others.