Busy introduces youth empowerment initiatives
Busy, an Internet service provider, has unveiled its three-pronged youth empowerment initiative aimed at preparing and equipping undergraduates for professional work after school through mentorship and special project.
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The initiative consists of a graduate development programme, a student brand ambassador programme and an online educational platform called JUMP which is being implemented in partnership with selected private and public universities in the country.
At the launch of the JUMP initiative on March 31, the Chief Executive Officer of Busy, Mr Praveen Sadalage, said the youth educational programme was in line with the company’s focus to drive the education agenda across its African markets.
“A key pillar in our strategy is a tremendous focus on the youth segment. About 60 to 70 per cent of the population in this country is below 25 years of age, signalling an impressive pool of talent and immense capacity just waiting to be tapped into.”
“The current trend in the use of digital media among our growing young population fully underscores the vital importance of supporting this segment,” he said.
The Regional Marketing Director, Youth Segment of Afrimax, operators of Busy in Ghana, Ms Yemi Lawal, said through the initiatives, a lot of undergraduates would get the opportunity to receive professional mentoring.
“These ambitious young professionals, who yearn for recognition and career advancement, are at the forefront of some of our next generation digital products and service. Operating such a young organisation is vital to maintaining a competitive advantage as it offers us invaluable insight into the segment,” she said.
The ICT Company, which has operations in Zambia, Cameroun, Uganda and Ghana, has partnered more than 40 universities and colleges across its markets resulting in a student ambassador programme with more than 1,500 students in order to prepare and equip undergraduates for life after university through internships, mentorship and special projects.
The JUMP platform
The Head of Marketing at Busy, Ms Linda Narh, said JUMP was a unique online content platform with categories in education, entrepreneurship, self-improvement and lifestyle.
Mrs Narh emphasised that the key focus was on providing free access to educational content through the creation of an e-library and creating an environment where young and upcoming entrepreneurs were supported through various initiatives.
“As part of the education category, we will launch the JUMP academy which will provide students with a wide array of study notes and a series of video lectures from reputable local lecturers,” she said.
Through its graduate development programme, the company has recruited some of the best and brightest recent graduates who account for 50 per cent of its staff complement.
Good initiative
The Deputy Minister of Education designate, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, lauded the company for the initiatives that would give both undergraduate and graduates the opportunity to gain valuable work experience.
“It is exciting for me that a significant 4G operator like Busy is launching this youth programme in collaboration with private and public universities in Ghana. An online portal with the potential of offering credible alternatives is a very welcome initiative and you will have the support of my ministry in this project,” he said.
