The Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) has restated its commitment towards developing young managers in Nigeria as winners for the 2017 Young Managers’ Competition (YMC) emerged recently in Lagos.
The competition, which is the Institute’s way of contributing to youth development is an annual competition established in 1974 under the leadership of Olusegun Osunkeye, the then MD/ Chairman of Nestle Foods Nigeria Plc and president of the Institute.
Munzali Jibril, President/Chairman of Council, NIM, in his address said the competition, which is open to young managers between ages 25 and 40, was instituted to encourage participants with creative and research abilities hone their skills.
According to him, YMC will enable participants conduct independent in-depth research into management related problems with a view to proposing new solutions. “In addition, the competition was established to create a corps of young men and women who can distinguish themselves in conducting studies in different areas of human endeavour in the hope that such propositions would help development in all its ramifications,” he said.
Speaking further on the competition, Munzali said it presents participants an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of management, originality of thought and ability to communicate their ideas logically.
While encouraging healthy rivalry among young managers, the competition exposes them to stimulate positive, analytical and professional research writing on management issues relevant to the Nigerian environment.
“Participants were allowed to choose their topics from identified areas of Sales and Marketing, Production Management, Human Resource Management, Logistics, Management Information System, Cost and Management Accounting, Financial Management, and Environment, Health, Safety and Social Responsibility,” Munzali stated.
Tony Fadaka, Registrar/Chief Executive, NIM in his closing remarks said the 2017 edition serves as a pilot test for the newly repackaged Young Managers’ Competition.
“We hope to expand the scope, duration and size of participants, going forward, to make it the best intellectually-based and most sought-after management reality show in the country. We believe that well-meaning individuals and corporate organisations will support us in this direction by supporting the competition,” he said.
The competition usually saw the emergence of a national champion, between the six persons who had won in the six geopolitical zones of the country.
However, to make it truly intellectual, relevant, contemporary and credible, the management of the institute with the approval of Council, decided to repackage the modalities for and approach to the competition.
Therefore, starting from this year, the Young Managers’ Competition has now assumed the toga of a reality show whereby the successful candidates, after being duly screened upon purchase of application forms, are brought together, grouped in teams, given diverse tasks to undertake and the best team comes tops.
Seyi John Salau
