As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, South African Airways has pledged to invest in Nigerian youths to contribute their quota to the development of the country.
The airline said it is poised to ensure it give back to the Nigerian society were it operates through various Programmes and activities that will impart positively on the youths both in the primary and secondary schools and the university.
In a chat with aviation reporters during the grand finale of the 1st South African Airways essay competition in Lagos with the theme: Patriotism, Making a Difference as a Youth, Head of Sales, South African Airways, Mrs. Kemi Leke- Bamtefa said the airline has series of activities lined up to impart on the youths and looking inward to see areas where they could contribute to the development of the youths.
She noted that the essay was for Nigerian youths aimed at bring out the best in the students, to awaken their sense of patriotism, thereby encouraging them to toll that line like Late president of South Africa, Dr. Nelson Mandela and many other great Nigerians who were patriotic.
“This is not about Mandela or about South Africa, it is strictly about Nigeria, Nigerian youths and how we can contribute positively to the economy”.
“We will have series of activities this year and we want to start the year on a positive note, the essay competition started in septemeber 2017 towards their long holidays and we just say why not do the grand finale first week in January everywhere is still quiet and we say its not too eraly to start something positive, thats why we are doing it”.
The SAA head of sales disclosed that two more essay competitions would still come before the end of the year to celebrate their 20 years of flight operations into Nigeria.
According to her,”We have been around for 20 years, we will be 20 years in December, so we will have series of activities this year, this is just part of it, in fact this year we have two essay competition for the youths,we want to be part of the development in this country, you see the topic is about Patriotism. I do not believe in blaming our leaders, people say our leaders have failed us, I say we have failed ourselves, so part of this is imparting on the youths and making them look inward ans see how they can contribute to the development of Nigeria”.
The 1st SAA essay competition held in conjunction with the Travel and Business Magazine is to be held every year according to the SAA representative, “Its quite interesting but I would not want us to focus on the 20 years but I think we should focus on the children today. We are going to run the essay every year, so, its going to be continous, its not just once off, we are doing it in conjunction with Travel and Business News, so you see something that is consistent, its a pattern and the essay competition, they can go to the universities, they can go the primary schools, they can go to ophanages because we are also supporting orphanage as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR”.
With over 200 entries, 10 of them were successful and met the criterial, out of the successful 10, eight of the students were present to defend their entries.
At the end of the day, Miss Victory Yinka-Banjo from Princeton College, Surulere, Lagos State, won the competition, winning the grand prize of a N100,000 and other prizes; Master Ojo Purpose Oluwapelumi from Liz International College, Giwa Oke-aro, Ogun State came second while Miss Halim Blessing of Princeton came third.
The other students also went home home goody bags and bag of books given to the teachers to put in their various school libraries.
Chairman, Independent panel of Assessors and spokesman, Skyway Aviation Handling Comapany, SAHCOL, Mr. Basi Agboarumi while appreciating the students for their write-ups and presentation appealed to the teachers to redouble their efforts in teaching the students.
“The teachers, please, the English teachers go back to the drawing board, English is our ligua franca, whether you are reading physics,biology or whatever, you need english to make presentation, when the situation is lost what impart can we really make, lets go back, take time to study ourselves as teachers and am sure when we have opportunity to take our students out, we know that we are coming out with the best that have been well grounded”.
In a brief comment, the SAA Regional Manager, North, west and Central, Mr. Ohis Ehimiaghe urged the youths never to loss their sense of patriotism no matter where they go and find themselves, adding that they should be proud to say they are Nigerians and boldly show off their passport.
“we should be able to give out our passport and we should be able to show that great passport to who ever ask for it. we dont have to pay the ultimate price at every given point in time but patriotism will help us to achieve and to make Nigeria a great nation again.Thank you young ones, thank you for educating us, we have thoroughly learnt, thank you”.
