The Nigerian Bottling Company, NBC, says it has spearheaded the launch of the Nigerian Business League for youth, an initiative which has witnessed the sign-in of a couple of private sector organisations to a concerted and collaborative efforts to tackle youths’ skills and employability gap.
The Director, Public Affairs and Communications of the Nigerian Bottling Company, NBC, Mr. Ekuma Eze made this known in Enugu while flagging off the youth ICT and Skills Acquisition Project, YISAP, which is being carried out in collaboration with the Baywood Foundation.
Mr. Eze, said that the Coca-cola system, comprising Coca-cola and the Nigerian Bottling Company, through the Coca-cola Foundation, has demonstrated it’s commitment to the well-being of Nigerian youths through the provision of funds for the Enugu Youth ICT and Skills Acquisition Project.
He enjoined the would-be beneficiaries of the current scheme, not to take this opportunity for granted and request that they devote, wholeheartedly, to the training schedules.
“As an organisation, we believe that the future of this country belongs to the youth. If we do not give them the opportunity to develop, many years down the line, it would tell on the progress of the entire nation,” Mr. Eze explained.
He was represented by the Commercial Manager of NBC, Mr. Ademola Yusuf at the event.
The Country Director of Baywood Foundation, Mr. Ojielo Chukwudi expressed gratitude to the Enugu State SME Center, for the commitment to provide support training for beneficiaries of the YISAP Project on access to loans, grants and government funds where available.
“These supports are huge and we are grateful to you. After today’s event, our project team will officially commence programme activities in the various LGAs and we hope that they will continue to enjoy your supports for the success of the YISAP project. The YISAP project will begin in Udi immediately, followed by Igboeze-North and finally Enugu East will come towards late 3rd quarter of 2021,” Mr Chukwudi said.
He said; ”The YISAP project brings hope and opportunities for young people. With the increasing demography of Nigerian youth population and the correlating rate of unemployment, dwindling economies, and the recession caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the YISAP project is a beam of light to cushion the effect of these challenges towards addressing them and resuscitating hopes to becoming economically independent .
“Today we have come to witness the official opening ceremony and launch of the Youth ICT and Skills Acquisition Project (YISAP). Last week we announced that Baywood Foundation has received a Grant Award from the Coca-Cola Foundation to implement the YISAP Project in Enugu. Personally, I am very excited about this project and I am confident that with the existing programme designs, the YISAP project will drive impressive impacts and cause improved livelihood for the beneficiaries.”
The YISAP Project will be implemented in Udi, Igboeze-North and Enugu East LGAs, selected across the three senatorial zones in Enugu State, and is designed to empower 600 indigent youths, especially young women, including Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), between the ages of 18-35 years, with relevant entrepreneurship and vocational skills such as ICT, Photography, Photo and Video Editing, Barbing, Digital Marketing, Graphics Design, Confectionaries, Making of House hold essentials as well as homemade consumables, fascinator, hats and other small scale enterprise.
The YISAP Project will also provide seed funds to 100 persons to help them start-up their businesses. There will be support systems to provide mentorship on business branding and packaging, business registration as well as empower beneficiaries with skills of business and financial management.
Since its inception in 2009, Baywood Foundation has supported communities and populations at negative edges of household income, unemployment, marginalisation and exclusion. They have implemented various projects and interventions across the country in areas of Health, Education, Peace and Security and most importantly, youth development.
As a Non-Governmental Organisation, Baywood Foundation aims to complement government efforts through its projects.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
