GOtv’s Drive in Empowering Nigerian Youths
One of the leaders of pay television, GOtv has reiterated its drive in empowering the youths of today across religious and ethic divide in Nigeria. As at the last count, over 6,000 youths have benefited from its empowerment schemes since 2014.
According to GOtv General Manager, Akin Salu, these empowered youths end up becoming ambassadors for the brand. These empowered youths are no other than the Sabimen, the primary responders who are trained to be the meet the need of customers.
He said participants in the Sabimen, canvassers as well as Mops and Pops schemes are community ambassadors for GOtv, adding that, “these are the people that the customers reach out to when they have issues that need to be fixed. So apart from just selling, they also help us fix issues within the communities”.
Speaking at a recent ceremony held for participants in the schemes, he reiterated that MultiChoice is committed to improving the economic capacity of young Nigerians, adding that its employment of over 6,000 young Nigerians since 2014 is a proof of this.
He said: “Since 2014, GOtv has been able to create jobs for over 6,000 young Nigerians. We are taking a lot of people off the street and getting them employed by selling GOtv.
“These people are able to attend to the needs of their immediate families, people they need to support and also support themselves in terms of education and other basic needs of life.”
One of the beneficiaries of the scheme is Umar Ahmed, who three years ago wanted a job badly. Having no skill, his chances were greatly limited, especially given the economic situation of the country.
However things changed for the better when he met a DStv installer, who told him about the GOtv Sabimen scheme, and asked him to apply. Having no idea of what was required he had to ask the installer a few questions.
The installer explained to him that the scheme aims to provide young people with a variety of skills, which will ultimately lead to self-employment.
Ahmed was impressed and he applied.
He was taken and subsequently equipped with the skills he had been told of. Participants in the scheme are provided training in, among other things, installation of GOtv, resolution of subscribers’ complaints and customer service.
He said: “MultiChoice has supported me in a lot of ways. First, there is a sense of responsibility being that I have a job. I wake up in the morning and I have something to do. Second, something comes in at the end of the month, which helps me pay my bills, help my younger ones and also do some certain things.”
Ahmed is hoping to start his own business, enlarge his capacity and become a partner with MultiChoice in the not too distant future.
Another beneficiary of MultiChoice’s employment initiative is Akanni Hassan Abayomi, who became a sales canvasser in 2016. Abayomi applied for the position after seeing an advertisement and his application was successful. He underwent training, which gave him skills in persuading people as well as financial management.
Being a canvasser involves persuading customers or clients about the product and they are paid commission on the sales they make.
His story mirrors that of Adetola Agbomagbe, a female, who is familiar with installation. Agbomnagbe said she was thrilled to have acquired technical skills through the training she got.
“As a female, I find myself in the field of engineering. I even