The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Kwara State Government, on Wednesday empowered 30 youth innovators with entrepreneurship and skills development support to help establish and grow their businesses.
The initiative is part of the Young Africa Innovates (YAI) – Kwara State Innovation Showcase, with the theme: “Igniting Innovation – Youth Solutions for the Future.”
In her opening remarks, Elsie Attafuah, the UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, described the YAI programme as a partnership between UNDP and the MasterCard Foundation aimed at catalysing youth-led innovation for socio-economic development.
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Attafuah, represented by Catherine Ibrahim, the YAI Incubation Specialist, said the programme focuses on identifying, incubating, and scaling the innovative solutions of young people across multiple sectors.
She emphasised that innovation goes beyond technology.
“Innovation isn’t just about tech, but about solving real problems that affect real people,” she said.
Attafuah added that the State Innovation Showcase highlights youth-driven solutions in climate action, inclusive fintech, waste-to-wealth initiatives, and agro-logistics.
She explained that the programme is designed to empower youths from marginalised and rural communities.
According to her, over 9,000 youths across seven states applied, but only 30 innovators per state – a total of 210 innovators – were selected.
“The 30 innovators have undergone four months of intensive mentorship, capacity building, and received seed funding to support their solutions. The essence of YAI is to develop innovations that address community-specific challenges,” she said.
Also speaking, Temi Kolawole,
the Managing Director of the Ilorin Innovation Hub, noted that Nigerian youths are naturally innovative but require proper guidance and platforms to express and refine their creativity.
He commended UNDP for extending the innovation programme to rural communities, ensuring broad awareness and inclusiveness.
Kolawole added that the Kwara State Government is fully partnering with UNDP to promote the YAI programme, ensuring that people with disabilities are also carried along.
He stressed that innovation and entrepreneurship remain the future, as government alone cannot absorb the country’s growing youth population.
He urged young Nigerians to embrace entrepreneurial opportunities, saying the country’s large youth population can become a significant force for Africa’s development.
One of the beneficiaries, Bilkis Abdulkadir, CEO of Bazkkam Para-Sports Academy, applauded the organisers for providing people living with disabilities a platform to contribute meaningfully to society.
She noted that the programme has enabled her to reach and engage more youths with disabilities in productive sporting activities.
Similarly, Abdulsalam Hussein, CEO of Harmony Natural Fruits Drinks, described the programme as a transformative experience that sharpened his business ideas.
He explained that his innovation focuses on converting fruit waste into organic manure.
