YOUTH EMPOWERMENT: Utomi presents young entrepreneurs with start-up kits

lagos—THE founder, Centre for Values and Leadership, CVL, Professor Pat Utomi has presented business start-up kits and grants to 100 young entrepreneurs in Ajegunle community in Lagos State. This came as the Lagos State government, in partnership with a Non Governmental Organisation, NGO, Orile Iganumu Progressive Association, OIPA, has introduced a four-month free computer training that run twice a year for youths in Orile community. Speaking at the Graduation of 100 CVL Young Entrepreneurs and Presentation of Start-up Kits/Grants, Prof Utomi said that the aim of the mentorship programme entitled: ‘Youth Entrepreneurs Training Programme (YETP)’ , was to empower young people in business skills and thereby reduce Nigeria’s unemployment by 65 per cent. He described YETP as a one year project funded by Citi Foundation, an intensive entrepreneurship development programme initiated for community youths in Ajegunle between the ages of 18 to 35 years, to provide them with business support that would enhance the capacity of the community based youths who run small businesses and have intention to own a sustainable business. Similarly, the president of OIPA, Mr Bode Medale said the need to curb crimes and other social vices been orchestrated by youths in the community, made Lagos State government in partnership with his NGO organise the  free computer training for the youths to enable  them lead a positive life. Medale said, “The need to change the stereotype believe that Orile youths are known only to perpetrate crime and other social vices formed the basis for the free computer progamme. With the aim that computer education is now a must skill to acquire irrespective of one’s qualification. Again, it is not all parents that can afford to pay a computer institute for his or her ward. That also made us to make the training free as part of our social community development to the community.”