Sivarajan (Rajan) Naidoo is the Operations Director of EduPower Skills Academy, a South African training provider committed to addressing youth unemployment through accredited learnerships and skills development programmes. With more than 30 years of professional experience — over 20 of which have been dedicated to training and development—Rajan is the strategic driving force behind the organisation’s growth and impact.

Based in South Africa, Rajan leads EduPower in the design, management, and delivery of Skills Development and Enterprise Development programmes that equip young people with practical, work-ready skills. He is a strong advocate for structured learnerships as a powerful tool to integrate unemployed youth and adults—particularly those without Grade 12—into meaningful economic participation.

Rajan began his career at ABSA Bank, where he spent 14 years building solid expertise in banking and finance. He later transitioned into the skills development sector, joining Services SETA, where he developed extensive knowledge of legislative frameworks, quality assurance, and compliance within the SETA environment. He further strengthened his corporate and financial experience at Daly Credit Corporation before founding EduPower in 2016, where he continues to drive strategic growth and innovation in the education and skills development sector.

Under his leadership, EduPower has expanded its footprint across multiple sectors, including BPO (Business Process Outsourcing), Retail, Manufacturing and Mining, delivering programmes that create sustainable employment opportunities while supporting clients’ B-BBEE objectives. Rajan views B-BBEE not merely as a compliance requirement, but as a transformative mechanism to empower disadvantaged South Africans, reduce poverty, and promote inclusive economic growth.

He is particularly passionate about a holistic approach to training— combining theoretical learning with practical, on-the-job experience, coaching, and mentorship. He believes that true skills development goes beyond compliance and must result in competence, confidence, and long-term employability.

Rajan’s vision is a transformed South Africa where every individual is employable, empowered, and equipped with relevant skills to contribute meaningfully to the economy. Through his leadership, EduPower continues to advance education, employment, and social impact across communities nationwide.