About 3,500 youths with different entrepreneurship skills, drawn across the 13 local governments of Nasarawa State, have been empowered with N1 billion, as funding to startup sustainable businesses to improve their livelihood.
The gesture, which is an initiative of the state government, is partnering Interweave Solutions International, where each is providing N500 million for the empowerment in the first phase of the programme.
Out of the beneficiaries, 50 youths have been selected for the pilot programme, and will be trained in modern techniques of business successes and how to overcome business hitches.
Governor Abdullahi Sule, who disclosed this during the distribution of the fund to the selected youths in Lafia, said the programme was a counterpart arrangement with Interweave Solutions international.
The governor said, the initiative was part of the government’s efforts to promote entrepreneurship development, tackle unemployment, and reduce restiveness among youths, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The governor, however, said that the money would given to the beneficiaries as grants to enable them to start and sustain their businesses.
Yakubu Kwanta, Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, said the initiative was aimed at making a positive impact on the youths to make them self-reliant and to contribute to the economic development of the state.
Kwanta noted that the gesture to the youths was one of the top priorities of Governor Sule’s administration, considering that the youths constitute over 70% of the state’s population.
“The state government want to empower the youths and make them unavailable for social vices and crimes because an idle man is a devil’s workshop.
“We have set machinery on the ground to monitor the beneficiaries and ensure that the money is invested in businesses and not diverted.
“As their business progresses, the beneficiaries of the other phases will be selected and train to enable them to receive training and support.,” Kwanta added.
Exodus Esuku-Ibor, Country Director of Interweave Solutions International appreciated the State government for the partnership, aimed at empowering the youths.
The Country Director emphasised that, the 50 youths were grouped into five Cooperatives of 10 members each in line with the policy of the organisation and registered with a business name each.
He added that each of the group had open an account with the registered business name and they grant for each group would be deposited in their account to ensure transparency and accountability.
He further stated that the supports would be given in tranches as their business progresses to guide against diversion.
