Page 26 - Energize May 2021

NEWS

Partners support young African talents the passion and ambition of the youth in
Ambitious.Africa, is something truly novel -
and a significant step towards empowering
Ambitious.Africa supports and encourages young people in Africa and the Nordic youth to take a significant role in shaping a
countries to actively participate in working for a better future. sustainable future, both for themselves and
their communities.”
In 2021, the partnership will undertake
ärtsilä’s commitment to with Ambitious Africa, we seek to engage three main projects; two focusing on local
supporting the well-being of student and entrepreneur communities to communities in Morocco and Nigeria, while
Wsociety is again emphasised with muster the true strength of a digitally native the third will involve students at African and
its recent entry into a strategic partnership generation whose ideas are not limited by Nordic universities. In Nigeria, Ambitious.
with Ambitious.Africa, a young initiative geography or politics. My hope is that we Africa will be hosting a six-part webinar for
that aims to act as a bridge between Africa untap the magic of boundaryless creativity, Master-Degree students, to learn about
and the Nordic countries. Ambitious.Africa and my dream is that many future leaders various sustainability issues. They will also
supports and encourages young people in will rise through this partnership to change participate in an Ideathon that could lead to
Africa and the Nordic countries to actively the world for the better” explained Björn potential solutions for positive change. The
participate in working for a better future. It Ullbro, Vice President, Africa & Europe at programme will end with an on-site event at
aims to increase well-being in these countries Wärtsilä Energy. the University of Ibadan on 24 April, which
by facilitating the sustainable development Vincent Forsman, co-founder of will include presentations on sustainability
of local entrepreneurship. Ambitious.Africa, added: “We are not on developments by experts from Wärtsilä and
The partnership between Wärtsilä and pace to reach many critical Sustainable other world-renowned organisations. The
Ambitious.Africa is based on their mutual Development Goals with the speed at which participants will also be invited to participate
values and goals to support the youth of they are needed – we need to be ready to in a workshop on innovative new solutions to
Africa and Europe in striving for a sustainable experiment with new approaches and include tackle issues raised during the programme.
future. By working together, the partners youth in the development discourse. We In Morocco, Pitch it! will feature a
can connect students, entrepreneurs, believe that it takes connected ecosystems competition where local entrepreneurs
start-up companies, financiers, and various of non-governmental organisations, start- involved in agri-tech, green innovation and
stakeholders from both continents to ups, small and medium-sized enterprises, sustainability can pitch their ideas. Climate
address common challenges, through a and prominent corporations to solve the change threatens the African continent, and
novel approach aimed at empowering problems we are currently facing. From our the goal is to encourage young entrepreneurs
future generations. This collaboration perspective, Wärtsilä is an ideal partner to help solve emerging issues with new
further highlights the need for more cross- providing invaluable opportunities, both innovative solutions.
pollination of aims and dialogue between for young people and the communities in
businesses and the communities they serve. which they live. Combining the experience Contact Fabien Cadaut, Wärtsilä,
Diversity and decentralisation are essential and know-how that Wärtsilä has, with www.wartsila.com
if full advantage is to be gained from
the opportunities provided by the entire
spectrum of fresh ideas and available talent.
Wärtsilä has a strong presence in Africa
and is well placed to encourage local youth
to become involved in the company’s work to
transition energy production towards a 100
percent renewables future. As a corporation
with global and local perspectives, Wärtsilä’s
intention is to engage fully with the
societies in which it operates. This means
going beyond merely encouraging local
employment and supply contracts, so by
aligning with Ambitious.Africa, the company
can add initiatives aimed at providing the
knowledge, skills, and training that will
support these efforts.
“The challenges we face as a society,
from education to income inequality, and
civil rights to healthcare and climate change,
are crying for novel ideas and solutions. As a
company with a long history, both in Africa
and the Nordics, we know the real benefit
of joining forces across a broad spectrum of Wärtsilä and Ambitious.Africa form a strategic partnership based on their mutual values and goals to
ideas and talent. Through our partnership support the youth of Africa and Europe in striving for a sustainable future. © Ambitious.Africa

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