LG Electronics: Developing Nigeria’s entrepreneurial future through youth empowerment
In a world where businesses are obsessed with profits, LG Electronics has shown that it is possible to fix its eyes on margins and still make impact on the host country.
A global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances, LG Electronics recently opened the Commercial Air Conditioning Academy and awarded scholarships to ten Engineering students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
The essence of this move was to enable the students gain the most up-to-date skills and training in commercial air conditioning – an evolving aspect of air conditioning- and provide them with necessary skills and training that will enable them have global entrepreneurship exposure and stand on their own.
The scholarship scheme, which is in its third year, is conducted annually by LG as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities to empower young Nigerians and ensure that the youth, who are the future leaders, are adequately empowered with funds and skills that will enable them achieve their dreams and aspirations.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the academy, Seonghak Kim, managing director, LG Electronics West Africa operations, said: “As a socially responsible and purpose-driven organisation, LG Electronics believes that in order to get the best out of students, the right learning environment ought to be created, which is what informed the establishment of the LG Commercial Air Conditioning Academy in the University of Lagos. Indeed, we believe this will go a long way to boost the intellectual and technical capabilities of the students.
“This scholarship is being awarded to ten students of 400 and 500 levels from the Faculty of Engineering who emerged as best students after a careful selection by both the university authority and LG Electronics based on their grade points of 4.0 to 5.0, which made them stand out from their peers,” Kim said.
Experts foresee that the facility will open up a vista of opportunities for the development of quality engineers and technicians to ensure safer and healthier living and working environment.
Rahamon Bello, vice chancellor, University of Lagos, said: “All over the world there is a great push for more of our young people to be involved in engineering and it is good to see a company of this magnitude investing in the development of Nigerian youths, giving them the enabling platform to live their dreams”.
According to Bello, the annual LG scholarship grants to deserving UNILAG Engineering students which is empowering students, enabling them focus on the things that matter.
Apart from this, LG is also leading the way with its highly energy-efficient products and CSR activities that are helping to redefine the company as both a green innovator and a humanitarian crusader.
In order to effectively respond to global issues, the company generally has three principles which govern the operations of its CSR initiatives. First, LG strives to gain consumer trust and encourage stakeholder participation through CSR programs that are specifically designed to address peculiar local issues that are important in each market. Second, LG utilises unique products and technologies. Third, the company seeks to engage with communities to bring about change at the local level by promoting employee participation through the donation of time, talent, and money.
Also, LG Electronics in partnership with the Korean Embassy visited SOS Village at Ijebu Owu in last Christmas season to donate a wide range of home appliances & electronics to Nigerians. LG has also visited the SOS orphanage village in Isolo, Lagos, and donated its products for the children’s well being and ease the care taking job of the social workers. Many toys were also distributed to the kids.
LG Electronics donated units of Mosquito Away AC as well as malaria medicine and mosquito nets to provide further protection against mosquitoes in communities. So far, this ground-breaking product has been donated to primary health centres in Nigeria, one of which is Ojokoro Primary Health Centre in Ifako Ijaiye LCDA in Lagos.
In Nigeria, the community of persons with disability is growing at a geometric rate. Going by the fact that this class of people is often viewed from the prism of invalids and dependants, they often feel marginalised. In response to this, LG Electronics in conjunction with its only distributor Fouani Nigeria Limited recently initiated an empowerment programme, which has so far benefited 15 deaf and mute persons who have been offered employment at the company’s facility in Apapa, Lagos. The LG empowerment initiative was put together in response to the large-scale call for the engagement of people with disabilities.
Speaking on the initiative, Mohammed Fouani, managing director, Fouani Nigeria Limited, said: “LG Electronics is committed to supporting the reintegration of disabled persons into the workforce and society. In recent times we have offered employment opportunities to them. The LG Electronics Empowerment initiative is a pragmatic approach towards the betterment of the lives of the citizenry irrespective of their status.”
ODINAKA ANUDU