BUSINESS CONTRIBUTION TO BETTER EDUCATION OF YOUTHS

In today’s rapidly changing and hyper competitive business environment where opportunities and

threats are present, innovation and continued growth remains as a main concern for companies.

Scholars have voiced the importance of business involvement in contributing to the development of

human potential, particularly that which is geared toward the youth segment of the human

populace. Jeffrey Joemes, CEO of ManpowerGroup believes that this will become the major agent

of economic growth.

Companies can deliver on outcomes in the long run when they align their own incentives and

processes with the promotion of youths education and talent development. By doing so they move

beyond good intentions for creating youth achievement to embedding that objective into their

business model.

UNESCO, UNICEF, UN Global Compact and UN Special Envoy for Global Education in 2013

developed a three-part process framework for social involvement of business in the education of

youths. It involves one, making a business case, i.e. establishing key drivers that can support

education while benefiting the business. Two, identifying activities that realize business benefits

and resolve education challenges in line with local needs. While the last part specifies that

businesses should be smart, which implies that business should know that education is a public

good and their policies should also be geared towards developing the public sector’s ability to

improve education access and learning quality.

Social involvement of business in education of youths is a reasonable investment because it can

help to boost the overall performance of youths in a nation. Before 2012, Nokia in Finland

partnered with the government of South Africa and others to develop a free nokia mobile

mathematics for schools in South Africa. An independent evaluation later conducted in 2012

showed that this innovation improved lecturers’ awareness and learner’s competencies. Similar

projects have also been launched in places like Senegal and Mexico.

In my home country, Nigeria, there are examples of business involvement in developing youths

welfare. My undergraduate internship program at KPMG, Nigeria in 2015 opened my eyes to the

importance of businesses creating platforms to develop youths in knowledge, skills and attitudes to

be productive members of the society. In this program over 60 Nigerian youths were empowered

with the tools and techniques required to solve business complexities in the nation. Also, Pearson

Plc partnered with Lagos State Ministry of Education and World Bank to use it’s core business to

drive learning outcomes in Nigeria. Professional development activities were provided to over 400

secondary schools educators in Nigeria to improve teaching quality and foster instructional

excellence. Quantitative studies report that this program has helped in building climates that

promote strong learning outcomes.

In conclusion, investing in education creates a generation of skilled people who will have rising

incomes and demands for products and services- creating new markets and new opportunities for

growth.

Madayese John Oluwashola

John.madayese@gmail.com