Team Kool-T from Ghana, has beaten stiff competition from across Africa to be crowned as the winners of third Unilever Africa Idea Trophy and walk away with the grand prize of an all-expense paid trip to London to compete at the Global competition finale.
Selected from Universities across the continent, the winning team will get an opportunity to showcase Africa’s talent at the Unilever Future Leaders League taking place in April this year.
The Unilever Africa Idea Trophy is aimed at second and third year University students with the express intent of combatting youth unemployment on the continent by equipping young people with the skills required in the workplace.
The competition is made up of multiple challenges across three main stages that ultimately build invaluable business acumen and leadership.
“Unilever has embarked on mission to empower over one million youth in Africa will the tools and skills to be employable,” said Mechell Chetty, Vice President Human Resources, Africa. “The Unilever Africa Idea trophy is just one pillar of our Youth Employability commitment that aims to upskill our youth who are entering the job market.”
This year, the competition partnered with premium tea brand, Lipton, so that students can conceptualize and implement solutions to real-life business problems.
Lipton provided the students with an exciting opportunity to present ideas that could change the face of the brand on the continent.
“The students are not left to the own devices to solve real problems faced by global brands, they are supported in the form of mentorship from Unilever’s veteran business leaders, assistance from creative agencies, and access to resources and tools to bring their ideas to life while gaining practical knowledge about marketing and sales, finance and business strategy,” said Chetty.
“This journey has been a life changing experience for Team Kool T. Having this rare privilege to compete against some of the most talented, vibrant and amazing young people across Africa and emerging overall winners just gave us a priceless experience.
We will give our all to make Africa proud at the global stage. Long live Unilever! Long live Africa.” said Team Kool – T, winners of the Unilever Africa Idea Trophy.
An important component of the competition is building student’s knowledge in soft skills and personal branding. For this reason, Unilever provided selected students with an intensive Power Mentoring Session with the Unilever Africa Leadership team where they shared their invaluable wealth of experience and their personal leadership journeys.
“As a purpose-driven organisation working to build a bright future for all, Unilever will continue to invest in initiatives such as the Africa Idea Trophy providing African youth with the required skills needed to secure employment and unlock their full potential,” concluded Chetty.
