Furthering its commitment to empowering the Omani youth in support of the national employment drive, Sohar International celebrated on Monday the graduation of the first batch of its internship programme – Tomohi that aims to Enhance Omani Youth Skills. The ceremony organized to felicitate 16 ‘Tomohi’ graduates was held at the W Hotel under the patronage of H.E. Sultan bin Salim Al Habsi, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Governors of Central Bank of Oman (CBO). The event was attended by Mr. Mohammed Al Ardhi, Chairman of Sohar International, a number of Board of Directors, Mr Ahmed Al Muslami, Chief Executive Officer of Sohar Internal, staff of the bank, special invitees, as well as the parents of the interns.

The event’s proceedings began with a welcome-note by Mr. Mohammed Al Ardhi, Chairman of Sohar International addressing the audience on this significant milestone in the lives of Tomohi Candidates; which was followed by a video highlighting Tomohi Program journey and a keynote speech from Mr. Mutheer Al Kalbani, Head of Learning and Organizational Development. Subsequent to this, a speech was delivered by a graduate where she expressed her views and the benefits of Tomohi Programa, followed by a special graduation ceremony felicitating the programme’s graduates was conducted.

Congratulating the graduates on the successful completion of the program, and commenting on the bank’s commitment to nurture and enable Omani youth through it, Mr. Mohammed Al Ardhi, elucidated: “Consistent with our belief in Oman’s talented young individuals, we have constantly explored and been a part of opportunities that are in line with the national agenda and empower the future of our country - the youth. ‘Tomohi’ was launched with the same goal, and supports young graduates through an experiential training process that enhances their learning and helps broaden their horizons, while enabling them to discover their capabilities and explore career opportunities in the vibrant banking sector. By means of ‘Tomohi 2018’, we are pleased to have played a role in advancing our graduates’ skills and capabilities; and preparing them for the important roles they will play in the further progress of the nation.”

‘Tomohi’ which means my ambition in Arabic, is a vital part of Sohar International’s Corporate Social Responsibility agenda and is a year-long youth mentorship programme that provides selected candidates with extensive exposure across its business lines and branches. Furthering the bank’s engagement with human capital from across the nation – ‘Tomohi’ has been designed with the aim to equip selected candidates with knowledge, skills and experience, as they prepare to enter the sultanate’s dynamic banking sector.

Under the 2018 edition of the ‘Tomohi’ programme, a total of 20 young Omani graduates embarked upon one year placements at the bank that have enhanced their employability, helping them become more relevant to today’s highly demanding and continuously evolving Omani labour market. Successful candidates commenced training on 29th July last year to help them gain practical experience by engaging in the bank’s work environment, familiarizing themselves with the fields of Finance, HR Management, Finance Sciences, Accounting, Information Technology and Marketing, under the able guidance of Sohar International’s experienced and multi-faceted experts.

The programme guided interns in identifying and building on their key strengths, exploring opportunities for career development, and getting a full perspective on the dynamics and particularities of the banking sector. That’s not all - the interns also benefitted from the bank’s Human Resource Strategy which involves a robust directive for raising the competencies of employees, through on-the-job training, technical and leadership programmes, coaching activities, and exposure to a variety of work streams to diversify their learning experience.

As a bank that understands the needs and requirements of generation next, Sohar International regularly partakes in and organizes initiatives that serve as a platform to engage young people. The bank’s participation in career and training opportunity fairs, and its arrangement of visits for school students to its various branches across the Sultanate, are examples of the same. That’s not all - the bank also encourages its ‘Tomohi’ graduates, as well as college students and budding entrepreneurs to attend its Chairman’s Forum, ViewPoints; a thought-provoking talk from world-renowned leaders, that provides a unique opportunity to gain insight by engaging in dialogue with inspirational personalities on key issues.

Given these erstwhile gestures and initiatives by Sohar International, it is only natural for the bank to continue to demonstrate a strong investment in youth; and focus on becoming an ‘employer of choice’. One that is keen to identify and communicate with promising Omani talent, while conscientiously informing them of the prospects available to them at the bank.