The Niger Delta Youth Professionals, NDYP, said it has empowered more than 1,600 Small and Medium Scale Businesses in the region with N500,000 grant each to support and increase the capacities of their businesses.
The Chairman, Nigerian Young Professionals Forum, NYPF, Mr. Moses Siasia revealed this during the third edition of the Niger Delta Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Summit held over the weekend in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
Siasia said the gesture was with support from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
He added that the initiative was meant to change the narrative by helping and empowering young people in the region to achieve their dreams by engaging in productive activities.
“We want our young people who are entrepreneurs to understand that the future is theirs and that the future is entrepreneurship. The world today is diverting from hydrocarbon. We are talking about Energy Transition, Climate Change. These are where the world’s interests are driving to, so we must conform to modern realities. This is why we are doing this to reshape the entrepreneurial culture in the region.”
He regretted that youths in the region have been marginalized over the decades with deprivation while the region has nothing to show after decades of contributing marginally to the growth of the economy.
He cautioned young people to consider exploring the Social Media to promote their brands and businesses, rather than jumping on it as a tool to abuse political office holders.
Siasia said in his quest to develop and expand his business he has been to over 60 countries while his staff strength has risen to over 480 staff and tasked youths in the region with business dreams not to be deterred by initial challenges associated with new and growing enterprises.
While calling for a change of business mindset for the youths of the region, the convener tasked governments in the region to develop a framework that would guide and support aspiring and intelligent business minds in the area.
Guest Speaker at the event, Ebimoboere Enyiekpemi whose lecture was anchored on Entrepreneur Beyond Oil restated the need for a return to Agriculture due to increasing problems and change in climatic conditions.
Enyiekpemi, who is also the CEO of Afritropic Farming and Agro Services Ltd, while sharing her story urged youths in the region to consider venturing into agriculture and tap from the benefits.
In a goodwill message, Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, Brig. Gen Barry Ndiomu charged youths to “rise above the entitlement mentality”, to set the stage for success.
