Ready, Set, Go! (RSG) Sponsored by JP Morgan

JAN Program, Ready Set Go (RSG) was sponsored by JP Morgan to train 3,000 Nigerian youth in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. Students were taught Financial Literacy, Critical thinking; Leadership Development skills Entrepreneurship; mentoring and work readiness skills. The program targeted participants aged 14 to 25.

 

RSG program partners included:

• Ovie Brume Foundation
• Chanell Microfinance
• Federal Government Agencies Abuja
• Community Based Organizations
• Participating State Schools.

During the 16 sessions of Ready Set Go, the participants were trained on the following;

•   Leadership development and life skill training: Students were encouraged to be critical thinkers and taught basic life skills that can help them navigate life with a clear vision of how every action impacts their futures. Participants were taught how to develop mind-maps, and had one on one mentoring sessions with professionals in various fields where they got more career insights.

•   Financial Literacy: students had a session solely on finances facilitated by Helene Atohenegbe, Business Development Manager, Channell MicroFinance, Lagos. Students were encouraged to be confident with whatever resources they have and live within their means, but invest wisely. Financial literacy is the key to reversing the cycle of poverty plaguing our society today.

•   Entrepreneurship Training: Here participants were exposed to the basics of a business plan, enabling them to recognize characteristics and practice of successful entrepreneurs, evaluate an entrepreneurial idea based on product, customer, and competitive advantage criteria also demonstrate business planning skills for venture start up, marketing, financing, management and ethical decision –making.

The program went smoothly, but not without a few challenges due to the Ebola outbreak, national elections, interruptions in the school calendar and extra-curricular activities. Ready Set Go really encouraged all the participants to use innovative thinking to learn business skills that support positive attitudes. Most participants started saving and those who had dormant accounts reactivated them based on facts shared by the facilitators.

Watch student feedback on RSG https://youtu.be/Yj7pG2LHUlY

JAN Program Director, Mrs Rita Davies, was a fantastic facilitator. Being a trained teacher her expertise shone through and the students responded very positively to her teaching style. There is no quick fix for our society. We have to start here; in our primary and secondary schools if we want an independent nation no longer dependent on the society, government or humanitarian agencies for survival. JAN programs such as this fill the void in the Public school system. RSG gave these young Nigerians permission to dream and believe in themselves; a luxury not all Nigerian youth can afford.

Check out Rita in action http://youtu.be/NkKENl8eZa4

 

Preye, Ovie Brume Foundation and Tobe Ifeanyi, Marketing & Communications Manager, JAN



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