2015 JA Africa Company of the Year Competition

Junior Achievement Nigeria outshines 16 Member Nations in Student Company of the Year Competition (#COY2015).

A host of national champions representing sixteen (16) JA Africa member nations participated in the Junior Achievement African Regional Company of the Year Competition (#COY2015) held in Libreville, Gabon December 2^nd – 5^th 2015. The 2014 JA West African teams were rescheduled to compete in 2015 as a result of the 2014 Ebola outbreak. JA Nigeria was honourably represented by The Dynamites; Government Girls Secondary School, Abaji, Abuja. The team of four included Miss. Idoko Mercy, Miss. Ogbobi, Miss. Monalisa, Miss. Ichado Faith and Miss. Gambo Mariam. The Dynamites emerged the winner of the 2014 JA Africa Company of the Year Award. In addition they also won the 2014 FedEx& Citi Client Satisfaction Award.

The winners of the 2015 NCOY held in Lagos, The Roaring Achievers hailing from Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja were unable to attend the event due to exam schedule conflicts, and were represented by the 2nd Place Winner: The Gemini Company, Noble Heights College, Abuja.

At this event, Senior Secondary students companies present the results of their enterprise and learning experience before a panel of independent judges. Participants must present the business achievements of each team as a whole, and each team member’s contribution. For a team to win, it is not sufficient just to run a financially successful JA company or create an exciting product/service. They must also demonstrate an understanding of how and why the company performed as it did and defend their Annual Report. Judges look for evidence of innovation in all facets of the company’s operations.

The Dynamites developed products from twine; a strong, affordable raw material and made stylish school bags, purses and shopping bags called “Pink Lady.” They overcame the challenge of the increasing demand for their products by employing ten (10) at-risk citizens at N10,000 (Ten Thousand Naira) a month. They trained them in six out seven stages of production, but completed the last stage independently to prevent piracy. The Dynamites recorded a gross profit of N 662,000 (Six Hundred & Sixty Two Thousand Naira); a net profit of N165,000 (One Hundred & Sixty Five Thousand Naira) and sold two hundred and fifty (250) shares at N200 per unit (Two Hundred Naira). For CSR they provided scholarships to two (2) children in their immediate community and planted 250 plants in their school; environmental stewardship tagged, “going green beyond words.’’

Miss. Zakari Maryam Gambo, President/CEO of The Dynamites said that “With what we are doing as The Dynamites, we no longer more fear unemployment after graduation. We are now entrepreneurs!” Mrs. Hajiya Adaviruku Rukaiya, Team Adviser & Principal - GGSS Abaji, also added that, “JA Nigeria through their spectacular programmes have consistently sensitized the youths against ignorance, indolence, and encouraged innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship which are required for the emergence of the desired economy and nation.”

JA Nigeria Executive Director, Mrs. Efua Edeh who was present at the annual event expressed her faith and enthusiasm in the potential of Nigerian youth to break socio-economic barriers and create innovative solutions despite the odds. The Dynamites met four out of eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – 1,2,3 & 7 viz-Eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, achieving basic education, women empowerment and environmental conservation respectively.

 

Left to Right: 2014 COY Africa Winners, The Dynamites: Maryam Gambo Zakari; Efua Edehm Executive Director, JAN; Monalisa Uyojo Ogbobi; Mecry Idoko; Faith Ichado and Mr Ojoh Francis Egbunu, Chaperone/Teacher Government Girls College, Abuja.

The Gemini Company from Noble Height College, Abuja represented Nigeria in the 2015 Category.

Written by: Petra Erhiyoma, JAN