Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN)

By Unknown - June 28, 2016

INTEGRITY THRIVES AT JA NIGERIA #COY2016 COMPETITION, LAGOS REGION

Junior Achievement Nigeria’s Regional Company of the Year Competition (South-West Region) held on Tuesday 14^th, June 2016 at the Coral Hall, Victoria Island Lagos. The event kicked off at 10:30 am with a welcome address from Mrs. Efua Edeh, Executive Director, JAN.

Eighteen schools across the region, from the Centre of Excellence to the Pace Setter City have been trained since September 2015 for the competition by JAN staff members and thoroughly mentored through the entire process of setting up a company, creating a product (production, branding and sales), selling shares, engaging in CSR, and having an annual financial report by JAN Volunteers.

The judges for the competition are key players in their various fields. We had Mrs. Obianuju Akanbi, Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability First Bank Nigeria LTD., Mr. Oluwole Oluyemi, Partner, Rodl & Partner and Mr. Innocent Oboh, President, Dijo Group. In their expertise they scrutinized the report and presentation of twenty student companies, making necessary corrections and giving vital advice.

One major highlight at this gathering of bright minds on their way to becoming ‘young conscientious leaders’ was the display of integrity by Miss. Olakunle Mercy of the Power Thinkers Company from Baptist Methodist Medical Centre Senior School, Saki, Oyo State. Mercy and her group had made a mistake in the information given on the company’s financial report but she could have lied or try to be diplomatic about it on behalf of the group, instead, she told the truth saying “We are sorry, we did not know that would be interested in the figures so we just created a report anyway. From the correction you gave the companies who presented before us, we realized our mistake and made amends. Here’s the new and actual financial report” she presented on paper to the judges. The judges were so impressed they gave the Power Thinkers a standing ovation.

After all presentations, the judges and other guests present went round to take a look at the students’ products. This was another opportunity for the students to further enlighten all who came by their stands about their products. There were products ranging from art to clothing to tech savvy items made by the students.

The Power Thinkers were given an award for Integrity which henceforth would be sustained as a criterion for gold at the competition. Antidote Enterprises from Fountain Heights, Surulere got the award for Best CSR Endeavour, while Mine Company from Redeemers High School, Maryland, came third, Halita from International School, Akoka second, and Innovative Minds from Caro Favoured School, Ajegunle emerged the champion of the Lagos region.

The winners who have been a part of the competition years before now had never earned a spot amongst the top three could not hold back their joy as they jumped and screamed, the entire room became lit up with excitement. Their highly creative and innovative ‘neon light’ earned them the top spot. The companies who made the first, second and third position, are to compete with other regions at the National Company of the Year Competition later in the year.

Power Thinkers (Baptist Methodist Medical Centre Senior School, Saki) - Award for Integrity

Antidote Enterprises (Fountain Heights, Surulere) – Best CSR Endeavour
Mine Company (Redeemers High School, Maryland) – 3^rd Place
Halita (International School, Akoka) – 2^nd Place
Innovative minds (Caro Favoured Schools, Ajegunle) - Winners