Unilever Boss Urges Nigerian Students to Think Global:
The Managing Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Mr. Yaw Nsarkoh, has urged Nigerian students to always think of ideas and initiatives that will place them ahead of others in the global competitive market.
To achieve this, he, therefore, urged them to be hardworking and committed to excellence.
He spoke at the University of Lagos during an interactive session with students, entitled “Driving change through sustainable growth.”
Nsarkoh, the firm’s Senior Vice-President, also used the occasion to share his life experience with a view to challenging the “students’ old ideas and unlocking their thinking.”
According to him, to excel in today’s world, there is the need for every student to set a high standard that will give him a competitive edge.
He notes, “For us at Unilever, global standard drives us. So, there is the need for you to know the global world and be curious about it. Driving change in Africa, for example, requires that no matter what, you must see yourself first as competing in global circumstances.
“Do not fall into the temptation that being the best in Africa is good enough, it is not. You live in a modern interconnected world, the circumstances of your being in a competition in a market place will be predicated on the extent to which you will be able to outperform your competitors. So, do not present your circumstance and environment as an excuse. If you do that, you have put yourself on a low ranking.
“So even in the smallest aspect of life, you must endeavour to put yourself on the path of excellence and education easily does this. Education plays a crucial role in social mobility. The child of a peasant with sound education can belong to the higher echelon of the society.”
Earlier, the UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rahamon Bello, while receiving Nsarkoh, lauded the company for its partnership with the university.
He, however, urged the firm to increase its corporate social responsibility to the institution and its students.
According to him, the university looks forward to benefiting from the company in providing hands-on experience and basic training for its students.
