‘ Samsung has trained Nigerian youths in capacity development’

Sthe Shabangu is the Head, Public Relations, Public Affairs and Corporate Citizenship, Samsung Africa Office. In this interview with ABIODUN AWOLAJA, she speaks on how Samsung invests and empowers youths through different capacity development programmes among other issues.

 

Samsung was last year named most admired brand in Africa. How did you achieve that feat?

Not only has Samsung always strived to ensure our clients have the latest and best products on the market, but we are also continuously contributing towards an improved global society.

And we truly believe that we can make a significant contribution towards a better world through the various initiatives in which we are involved.

Over the past few years, we have made significant progress on our mission to provide education solutions to rural areas across the continent. Our goal is to enable a greater number of children to access the digital technology needed to gain an education, and in so doing improve their lives.

We have been on a journey to connect with and touch the very heart of Africa through our CSI initiatives – which is why the brand continues to resonate so well within the region.

 

What edge do Samsung products have over products of other companies?

What gives us the edge is our relationship with our customers. We make it our mission to understand the wants and needs of consumers and then design our products accordingly. Basically, Samsung is driven by its customers.

 

Are you introducing new products this year?

Samsung has already unveiled a number of exciting new additions this year, including:

The Wall – the world’s very first modular, microLED, 146-inch TV.

A whole host of unique connected car solutions under our new subsidiary HARMAN International including:

The New HARMAN Digital Cockpit Platform – the platform brings an entirely new generation of communication and ergonomics inside vehicles, allowing drivers to focus on the road ahead while intuitively and safely interacting with their in-car technology.

DRVLINE – an open, modular, scalable platform that will allow automakers to build advanced, customised cars of the future.

We are constantly innovating and looking for new ways to wow our consumers.

Watch this space!

 

Samsung has shifted its focus to education in recent times. What informed this shift?

Education is a very powerful weapon when it comes to reducing poverty and inequality, and laying a solid foundation for sustainable economic growth.

But one only has to look at recent findings, like those produced at last year’s World Economic Forum to see that our education systems are failing our children by not adequately preparing them for the workplace of tomorrow.

In using technology to help address these and other issues hampering education in Africa, we believe we can make a genuine contribution to our future global society.

 

What have been the achievements since you started this project?

Samsung has launched numerous Solar-Powered Internet Schools, Smart Schools and Engineering Academies across the continent.

If we look at Nigeria alone, we’ve rolled out five different Smart Schools across the districts of Ogun, Imo, Cross River, Abuja and Delta State. As a result, we have trained 192 teachers.

We’ve also opened two Engineering Academies in Lagos and Ekiti. Already these Academies have trained over 800 young minds and seen 257 students graduate.

 

In your own view, what is the greatest problem of education in Africa?

For many children across Africa, attaining an education is a battle. To succeed they might well be required to wake up at the crack of dawn and walk long distances to the nearest school. In some cases, they might not even have anything to eat before their lessons for the day begin. They then face the challenge of vying for the teacher’s attention in an overcrowded classroom where the few resources available need to be shared.

From outdated teaching resources, to shortage of physical space and – perhaps most importantly – a shortage of qualified teachers, the challenges are considerable.

In fact, UNESCO estimates that in sub-Saharan Africa, 88% of children and teenagers will enter adulthood without basic literacy as a result of low investment in schools and teacher training.

This is why Samsung as a brand is so devoted to investing in the technology which can help alleviate these challenges. Whether it’s through access to learning resources or the tools and training to help teachers succeed, we want to help make attaining an education just that bit easier for these children.

 

What exactly is meant by smart schools?

The goal of our Smart Schools is to drive teacher and student-led learning through the use of the latest ICT solutions.

Each school is equipped with a wide range of learning tools such as tablets, laptops, desktops, an e-board and a WiFi printer. In this way they are able to support interactive teaching and learning, as well as greater collaboration through engaging digital content.

 

Can you elaborate on Samsung Solar-Powered Internet School?

While access to connectivity is key to the continent’s progress, electricity continues to be a major stumbling block to increasing this connectivity.

According to World Energy Outlook, an estimated 1.2 billion people did not have access to electricity in 2016. And more than 95% of these people live in countries in sub-Saharan Africa and developing Asia.

This is why our Solar-Powered Internet Schools are geared specifically towards increasing accessibility to education and connectivity across Africa.

Because these schools are solar-powered, mobile and completely independent, they’re ideal for use in remote locations where there is limited access to electricity.

Each Solar-Powered Internet School is built in a 12 metre long shipping container, easily able to accommodate 21 learners. The containers have several layers of insulation and a ventilation system to keep the room at a comfortable temperature. They are equipped with 50-inch electronic boards and a variety of Samsung Notebooks and Netbooks. These are all optimised for use in a solar-powered environment. Uninterrupted power supply and the world’s first Wi-Fi camera are amongst some of the other features of the school.

 

What is the rationale behind the Engineering Academy project?  

Recognising the need to grow future-focused skills for the workplace as well, Samsung has placed the development of ICT and engineering skills front and centre of its efforts. This we do in the form of our Engineering Academies which are aimed at addressing the skills gap in technical and engineering expertise. These institutions not only draw on the knowledge and expertise of the company’s highly skilled staff members, but also e quip students with starter toolkits so that they are fully empowered to start growing their own businesses should this be the direction they wish to take.

 

What do you hope to achieve with the Women Technical Programme?

When Samsung first started its Women Technical Programme, its goal wasn’t simply to empower women with technical skills for the workplace. Rather it also saw the programme as a platform from which it could address the concerning unemployment rate among women.

And even more than this, it saw the initiative as a crucial first step towards developing a generation of female technicians uniquely qualified to inspire change in our country as we head into the next industrial revolution.

As G.D. Anderson said, ‘Feminism isn’t about making women stronger. Women are already strong. It’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength.’