The Korea-Nigeria Youth Camp 2023 sponsored by the Korea-Africa Foundation (KAF) in collaboration with Korea Cultural Centre Nigeria (KCCN) held on Monday October 16 to October 20, 2023 in a grand style.
In this year’s edition, eight students of At’tarbiyyah Stem School Abuja who won the “Best Innovative Business Project” at the Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship (SAGE) Business Innovation Competition 2023 were selected to participate in the programme.
The students engaged in a Korean cultural event at KCCN.
During the cultural event, they toured the exhibition hall and experienced various aspects of the Korean culture from Hanbok wearing to Hangeul Writing and Tuho game.
The activities were contained in a statement and schedule of events released by KCCN during the week, obtained by Blueprint.
Blueprint learnt that the Korea-Nigeria Youth Camp is designed towards giving young Nigerian students an experience of Korean cultural and entrepreneurship activities in Nigeria as well as fostering boisterous relationship between Korea and Nigeria.
According to the schedule of event, the five-day event which took place at At`tarbiyyah Stem School Abuja showcased various exhibitions and projected various aspects of the Korean culture.
In their separate reactions, Maryam Buba, Hafsat Abbas, Faisal Abdulaziz said they didn`t expect learning Korean to be so fun but it was a very lovely experience.
The students visited the Jangu studio where they were taught.
At the Korean Consulate Office in Lagos, the students were entertained in the Consular Hallyu Hub space.
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.
Reacting, Izzatu Hassan said the jangu drum is so captivating. She said she was captivated by the rhythm and skill used to beat this drum.
Also, Muhammed Isa and Maryam Buba described the event as energetic and exciting.
However, 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 LG, the students were given insight into the corporate experience. The company played a Korean history video and LG`s product advertisements.
The students 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 one to 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.
Also, 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 in an interview, stated that he was proud of what the Korea-Africa Foundation had set up.
In an interview Kasim Ibrahim Yakubu said he loved the opportunity to be able to ask and answer questions.
The students also visited the factory of the hair company, Linda-Solpia, officially known as Solpia Nigeria Ltd, established in 2007 popularly known as X-Pression.
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 automechanics.
The last day of the excursion took the group to Nike’s Art Gallery in Lekki, Lagos. The 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.
In an interview, Hajiya Amina Abdullahi Abubakar, the Director of At-tarbiyyah STEM School, commended KCCN and KAF for organising such an event.
She said that after the group that won the ‘Best Innovative Business Project’ at the Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship (SAGE) Business Innovation Competition, 2023, were chosen for this trip, other students were inspired to work harder.
