The MaxME Catalyst Project offers a face-to-face and virtual career development platform facilitated by Sam Soyombo's Career and Information Systems expertise. This contribution extends beyond leadership, as Sam Abayomi Soyombo (SAS) will also oversee the project's virtual logistics maintenance, and the two School principals will nominate a teacher to supervise the face-to-face logistics and liaise with SAS. The involvement of Afrograms Abeokuta School Staff and The Skool Career, Counseling, and Motivation Group ensures a holistic approach to career guidance, leveraging their diverse skills and insights.

Evidence of Need

There is a clear need for skills development coaching in Nigerian state-owned secondary schools. According to a recent study by the World Bank, only 20% of Nigerian secondary school graduates are employed five years after graduation. It is due to several factors, including a lack of skills and experience.

• A study by the World Economic Forum found that 54% of all jobs will be disrupted by automation by 2022.

• A Nigerian Employers Consultative Association (NECA) study found that 80% of Nigerian graduates need to be more employable.

• A United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) study found that 70% of Nigerian youth are unemployed.

The MaxME Catalyst Coaching Programme curriculum can address this need by providing students with the skills they need to succeed in school, work, and life. The program is designed to help students develop the following four critical areas of skills: Universal, Self-management, Social intelligence, and Innovation skills.

Specific MaxME Skills Needed by Target School's Students:

• Universal Skills: We see several other skills as fundamental to success in the future world of work. These core technical skills, including literacy, numeracy, and digital intelligence, are vital for success.
• Self-Management Skills: These skills help people to manage their time, emotions, and stress effectively. Examples include Focusing, Integrity, Adapting, and Initiative.
• Social Intelligence Skills: These skills help people to build and maintain relationships, work effectively in teams, and resolve conflict. Examples include communicating, feeling, collaborating, and leading.
• Innovation Skills: These skills help people think creatively and develop new ideas. Examples include curiosity, creativity, sense-making and critical thinking.
• Career Management Skills (CMS): Career management skills are the skills, knowledge, and abilities individuals need to make informed decisions about their careers, develop and implement career plans, and achieve their career goals. They are essential for success in today's rapidly changing workplace, where workers must adapt to new technologies, industries, and job roles.

Annual Training Curriculum

• JSS1: MAGIC Assembly (Motivation, Assertiveness, Goal Achievement, Initiative and Confident communication)
• JSS2: Child Wellbeing Assembly
• JSS3: Find Yourself (Learning style to inform pathway)
• SSS1: Opportunities (Future jobs), MaxMe Skills Assessment Coaching and SDP.
• SSS2: Communication (Personal Statements), MaxMe Skills Assessment Coaching, and SDP.
• SSS3: Use Information (Gaps and Tailoring), MaxMe Skills Assessment Coaching, and SDP.
• School Leaver: Starting with MAGIC For Personal Effectiveness

Coaching Delivery:

• Year Assembly
• Faculty Assembly
• FOCUS Group Coaching
• One to One Skills Development Coaching
• Assessment with a Skills Development Plan (SDP) report
• Old Students Faculty Mentoring 
• Scholarships Application Guidance.

Coaching Methods

The MC Coaching Programme uses a variety of coaching methods, including:

• The Affiliated Consultants for Education (ACE) are the Principals of both the Junior and Senior Schools who will promote the benefits of MC to other staff and encourage them to volunteer and train as a MaxME Coaching Associate. 
• Year Assembly: SAS will give a talk to the entire year group on MAGIC and Wellbeing Coaching.
• Faculty Assembly: Old Student Mentors will lecture on specific faculty-related skills and Jobs of the future.
• MAGIC Group Coaching: The MaxME Catalyst Associates (MCA) will lead a group of students in a coaching session on MAGIC Coaching.
• One-to-One Skills Development Coaching: The MCA will meet with a student individually to assess their Skills Development Plan (SDP), identify the skills to focus on for development, and recommend resources to aid the specified skills development.
• Mentoring by Old Students: The local, national and diaspora old students will provide mentorships through a caseload of students with career aspirations linked to the mentors' various career disciplines of Science, Arts, Business and Vocational fields.

Assessment and Reporting

The MC Coaching Programme uses various assessment methods to measure student progress. These methods include:

• Online Skills Development Assessment tools: This assessment measures students students skills at the beginning of the program.
• Skills Development Plan Report: This report is generated after an MCA meeting to review skills development assessment, facilitating the students' identification and agreement to their skills development plan.
• Skills Development Progress Assessment: This assessment measures student progress at the agreed time in their SDP.
• Observation and Peer Review: This is the periodic planned and spontaneous observation by Old Student Mentors or another MCA to give constructive feedback to improve coaching practice.

The MaxME.info Portal (work in progress)

The MaxME.info portal is Sam Soyombo's web-based platform that provides students access to the MC Coaching Programme. The portal includes the following features:

• Members registration interface: Students can register for the MC Coaching Programme through the portal.
• ACE interface: Affiliated Consultant for Education (ACE) can manage their Schools and coaches through the portal.
• MCA Lead Interface: MCA Leads are responsible for school management, parents and SAS liaison, training, and MCA team development.
• MCA interface: MaxME Catalyst Associates (MCAs) can manage their students and coaching sessions through the portal.
• Student interface: The portal allows students to access their coaching plan, coaching resources, and assessment results.
• Mentors interface: for Professional old student mentors. They will consist of experienced and knowledgeable professionals willing to share their expertise and guidance with current students. They should be able to provide mentees with insights into their industry, career advice, and support as they navigate their career journey. Playing a valuable role in the lives of mentees, helping them to identify their interests and skills, explore different career options, develop their professional skills and knowledge, and prepare for job interviews. They can also connect mentees with people in their network and offer support and encouragement throughout their career journey.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the MaxME Catalyst Project is a beacon of innovation and collaboration in career development. Its alignment with The Skool's vision showcases a commitment to nurturing the potential of Afrograms Abeokuta students. By integrating technology, experienced leadership, and a comprehensive support network, the project is poised to create a lasting impact on the professional journeys of the participating students.

Strategies for Success:

1. Enhanced Communication Channels: Establish transparent and efficient communication channels among project teams to ensure seamless coordination and information flow.
2. Continuous Training and Development: Provide ongoing training and development opportunities for Afrograms School volunteers, The Skool Career, Counseling, and Motivation Group to stay abreast of the latest trends and best practices in career guidance.
3. Monitoring and Evaluation: Implement a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the project's effectiveness, gather feedback, and make informed adjustments for continuous improvement.
4. Community Engagement: Actively engage with the Afrograms Abeokuta community, including parents, teachers and students, to foster a sense of ownership and participation, ensuring the project's success and sustainability.

By incorporating these strategies for success, the MaxME Catalyst Project can meet its immediate goals and lay the foundation for a scalable and enduring model for career development initiatives for Afrograms Abeokuta's present and future students.

The MaxME Catalyst Project

The MaxME Catalyst Project is a new initiative to help over 12,000 students at Afrograms Abeokuta develop the skills and knowledge they need to navigate their career paths effectively. The project is a collaborative effort between The Skool CCM Group, Afrograms Abeokuta School Staff, and MaxME Initiatives.

Project Goals

• Develop a Robust Academic Foundation
• Explore Career Options
• Hone Personal and Social Skills
• Craft Personal Development Plans

Project Methodology

The project will utilise a variety of coaching methods to ensure a holistic and engaging learning experience for students, including:

• Year Assembly
• Faculty Assembly
• FOCUS Group Coaching
• One-on-One Skills Development Coaching
• Assessment with a Skills Development Plan (SDP) Report
• Old Students Faculty Mentoring
• Scholarship Application Guidance

Project Team

Two teams are working on the project:

• The Strategic Lead Team comprises the two school principals, Mr Adeleke, Barrister Shittu, and Mr Tosin Akindele.
• The Operational Lead Team of eight dedicated and reputable teachers, including Mrs Adebayo and Mrs Garba from The Skool, guidance counsellors, and IT officers from both schools actively volunteer to give at least three hours a week to support the initiative.

Funding Request

The MaxME Catalyst Project is seeking funding from "The Skool" to support the procurement of Chromebooks for the Two schools' ICT Suites to facilitate access to the internet for all pupils and upgrade the skeleton ICT resources they have. Providing these Chromebooks will enhance the student's learning experience and enable them to participate fully in the project's online modules and activities.

Proposed Chromebook and Internet Installation

The MaxME team proposes installing MTN 5G internet router for the school and purchasing Chromebooks for the students. There are three options for Chromebooks:

• New Chromebooks: Estimated cost for 60 Quantity is £12,000 – £24,000 (N18,300,000 – N36,600,000) 
• Used Chromebooks: Estimated cost is for 60 Quantity £6,000 – £12,000 (N9,150,000 – N18,300,000)
• Used Chromebooks for Pilot only: Estimated cost for 12 Quantity is £1,200 – £2,400 (N1,830,000 – N3,660,000)

Recommendation:

Based on the cost analysis and the feedback from both current and recent former students, purchasing used Chromebooks for the pilot phase is the most cost-effective option. To address the limited access to ICT facilities in the senior school, we recommend utilising the junior school's ICT suite for the MaxME Catalyst Project. This will ensure dedicated access for senior students while maintaining the existing infrastructure in the senior school.

We propose assigning 11 Chromebooks to the junior school's ICT Personnel for joint use by junior and senior students. One Chromebook will be dedicated to senior school ICT Personnel for MCP registration. MaxME will monitor the usage of the senior school Chromebooks for registration purposes. After the pilot phase, registration in the senior school will be limited to newly registered students, allowing existing students to access the ICT facilities in the junior school.

This approach will provide a cost-effective and equitable solution for accessing ICT resources while ensuring the success of the MaxME Catalyst Project.

Summary of Funding Required:

Logistics Issues

The MaxME team recommends sourcing Chromebooks from the UK to ensure quality. However, if the used option is chosen, Sam Soyombo could personally handle the sourcing and purchase of the used Chromebooks but will need a logistics person to get them to Abeokuta.

Conclusion

The MaxME Catalyst Project is a groundbreaking initiative that has the potential to make a significant difference in the lives of students at Afrograms Abeokuta. With the unwavering support of The Skool Strategic Lead Team and "The Skool", the project is confident that it will successfully empower Afrograms Abeokuta students to achieve their academic, personal, and professional goals.

Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.