Entrepreneurship: 48 National Youth Service Corps’ members receive business grants

Forty-eight members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have been empowered with various sums of money to finance their businesses, according to the NYSC Management.

 

(The NYSC is a program set up by the Federal Government to involve Nigerian graduates in nation-building and the development of the country. It also aims to foster national unity and cohesion).

 

Their business proposals had scaled through different stages of professional vetting before receiving the grants.

 

The business areas cover agriculture; craft and fashion design; education; and shoemaking, among others.

 

The Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, commended Unity Bank for providing financial grants to Corps Members selected from NYSC Orientation Camps in the Federal Capital Territory, Edo, Lagos and Ogun States.

 

He said the pilot project of the “Corpreneurship Challenge” would create opportunities for self-employment and wealth creation and also reduce the increasing number of unemployed graduate youths.

 

“Salaried jobs are scarcely available. My appeal to you is to be determined, remain focused, avoid cutting corners and fan into flame the training that you have acquired for your empowerment, as it would later translate to societal development.

 

“Be prudent in your spending, avoid indolence and be committed to what the Unity Bank has done for you”, he said.

 

The Director-General also advised the Corps beneficiaries to do a peer review of their successes and re-strategize for greater output.

 

In her remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Unity Bank of Nigeria, Mrs Tomi Shomefun, promised a robust partnership with the NYSC Scheme, which would empower more youths for self-development.

 

She commended the Director-General for his strong passion for skills acquisition, adding that Unity Bank is expanding the “Corpreneurship Challenge Initiative” to six more additional locations namely Akwa-Ibom, Kano, Sokoto, Bayelsa, Enugu and Osun States.

 

Shomefun, who said Unity Bank has been making tremendous impact in youth development specifically congratulated the female awardees and advised them not to disappoint the NYSC Scheme and Unity Bank, but imbibe the spirit of hard work and sincerity of purpose.

 

“Never despise the days of little beginning but hope for greater heights.

“Take the seed grant that has been given to you to develop yourselves and the society”, she advised.

 

The Director, Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme, Mr Hilary Nasamu, advised the Corps beneficiaries to adhere strictly to the template of their business proposals.

 

He said the Scheme would continue to monitor their progress on quarterly basis.

 

He urged them to strive to have two employees within the first eighteen months and four employees within the first two years.

 

“This is a grant without interest. You must continue to dedicate yourselves to this opportunity and don’t forget to seek expert advice at all times”, he added.

 

Amaka E. Nliam