By Ochiaka Ugwu with Agency Report
The Korea-Africa Foundation in line with this, established the Korea-Nigeria Youth Camp
which commenced in 2021. The idea behind this youth experience, is an avenue to not only foster a
boisterous relationship between Nigeria and Korea, but also give young Nigerian students an
experience of Korean cultural and entrepreneurship activities in Nigeria.
The period is between 16th – 20th October, 2023/ Monday-Friday (5 Days, 4 Nights Camp) both in Abuja and Lagos. At`tarbiyyah Stem School Abuja won the ‘Best Innovative Business Project’ at the students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship (SAGE) Business Innovation Competition,2023.
The students visited the Jangu studio where they were taught. He taught them the method of holding the Jangu stick and different methods of beating the Korean drum. By the end of this session, the students had learnt how to play the traditional song of the Jangu drum.
At the Korean Consulate Office in Lagos, students were entertained in the Consular Hallyu Hub space. The artwork of Mama Nike, the renown Nigerian artist and proposed Brand Ambassador to the Busan Expo 2030. The students were shown a PR video of the Busan Expo 2030, where the video introduced Busan as the city with ‘7 beaches, bridges, 10 mountains, and a new yet old city of Korea’. Promotional videos of ‘My Korea’ was also played.
The Consular General, Mr. Lee Sang-ho also gave a brief talk. He encouraged the students to keep
doing their best and keep moving forward because they are the key to Nigeria becoming a very
developed country. He said there are various Korean organisations and companies in Nigeria such as
Samsung, LG, and even a Korean school and all this is because ‘No nation can stand alone’. He said
‘relationships are key, and we have to co-exist, cooperate to improve another’s country and thereby
improve ours’.
At the end of the session, the students, had a taste of Hansik (Ho-Tteok) made by the Consular
General’s wife, and were given souvenirs. The session rounded up with a group photo. Zzatu Hassan said the jangu drum is so captivating. She said she was captivated by the rhythm and skill used to beat this drum. She said it looked easy, but it definitely isn’t. She is excited for more. Muhammed Isa & Maryam Buba described the event as energetic and exciting. Hafsat Idris complained that it was really difficult learning how to play the Jangu drum at first, but eventually she got used to it. She said even holding the stick was difficult but she’s sure that just like everything else, she can get better with practice.
At the third day, students were given insight into the corporate experience. LG played a Korean history video and LG`s product advertisements. They were shown marketing videos of LG’s products like the LG
InstaView Door-in-Door refrigerator which keeps food fresh longer, saves up to 32% more energy and a
`knock-twice’ feature that after two quick knocks, enables you see inside the refrigerator without opening the door. They also introduced the AI DD washing machine that detects the kind of fabric is put inside and automatically chooses the most suitable washing option for the fabric. LG also introduced the OLED TV, QNED TV, ArtCool AC which filters air impurities and the LG styler. With their new LG Thin-Q app, most of these products can be controlled remotely, even from another country.
Students asked questions, made innovative suggestions and were given LG souvenirs. Samsung showed the students samples of their latest products- The Samsung Flip 5, and Fold 5, and the S9 Tab. Presentations were made by the Product Manager, Stephen Okwara, and Samsung CE National Trainer- Ms. Doigha Abigail. After successfully answering questions, the students were given gifts of the Samsung Fit2 smart Watch. The Product Manager, Stephen Okwara stated in an interview, stated that he is proud of what the Korea-Africa Foundation had set up.
Day four saw students visit the factory of the hair company, Linda-Solpia, officially known as Solpia Nigeria Ltd, established in 2007 popularly known as X-Pression. Here the excursion group was given a tour of the factory. Introduced to the braid and weavon sections and the different processes involved in each. Also, the group were allowed to touch and examine the products before and after the manufacturing process was complete. The factory had a workforce of over 6000 people. The students asked about salary distribution for such a vast workforce, to which the HR Officer responded that they have an accountant that handles such intricacies without chaos. The physical tour wasn’t to last more than 30 minutes as a policy to avoid less productivity on ground. The question-and-answer session after the tour was full of inquisition and observation and the excursion group were given souvenirs.
The CEO, Mr. Sunghoon Jeong later joined the group, after a brief interactive session, he welcomed themback them next year and commended their composure. A group photo was taken. At KIA, an in-depth, interactive-question filled tour was conducted by the Operations Manager Mr. Oluwatomiwa Okunola. He educated the excursion group on KIA’s processes as well as the operations involved in putting together a car. Guiding the group from level to level, from KIA’s auto parts to the point of assembly and physical testing of the vehicle, the excursion group was educated. The students were delighted at the point of the vehicle test drive. In an interview with the Operations Manager, who has a 12- year experience in the field said “this excursion by KAF and the Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria is beneficial to the students because the world is majorly diving into auto mechanics. This is especially in moving from the traditional form of mobile automechanics to the electrical. But this is the foundation. He says to an
extent, everyone is trying to go into IT, robotics, but most fail to realise that all these people start from the mechanical parts. The fundamentals begin here. I would also love to meet someone who can develop the automobile industry in Nigeria. A student asked why all these things are being imported, and I responded because the automobile aspect of the Nigerian economy isn’t developed. Let’s develop it! We aren’t developing it or training ourselves because most people see mechanical work as tedious, but honestly it is exciting. I sincerely hope these students call me one day with an interest in mechanics and I will gladly surrender my time”. A group photo was taken by the group who was also joined by the DGM, Mr. Vijay.
Hafsat Abas Idriss said that for such a popular hair company X-Pression to be so vast and fundamental in Nigeria, one would have thought it’s Nigerian or even African. Who knew it was Korean? She said. And the workforce? Shocking! Izzatu Hassan Salisu “It was amazing how everyone knew exactly what to do. Nobody was idle, nobody was resting, nobody was lagging behind. Everyone knew their job well and was executing it perfectly. The rate at which the works worked was…amazing.” Muhammed Ibrahim Isah commented on KIA’s manpower expertise. The tour guide, “Mr. Okunola was really good. He knew so much about the vehicles and their parts it was amazing.” He said that from the tiniest detail, to the biggest, the Operations Manager was able to explain the what, the why and the how.
His knowledge was impressive. The test ride we were taken on was very fun. Ali Aminu Wali described the event as fun and an overload of knowledge. This was educative and practical, so it was very fun. So much goes into assembling a car, pressure, size, function. Even the test ride was not just fun but also eye-opening.
The last day of the excursion took the group to Nike’s Art Gallery in Lekki, Lagos. This gallery houses over
25000 paintings, it also features NIKE’s textile museum with clothing on sale, and an array of brilliant
sculptures of which the students took many pictures.
