Forum, Heritage Bank partner to boost skills of young entrepreneurs

The Nigerian Young Professionals Forum in partnership with Heritage Bank have inaugurated a grant scheme to support young Nigerian students and entrepreneurs.
The NYPF’s Chairman, Moses Siasia, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, said the programme was inaugurated on April 6 in Lagos.
Siasia said the name of the programme is Young Entrepreneurs and Students Grant.
Siasia said renowned Nigerian actress, Stephanie Okereke-Linus, was named the Brand Ambassador of the scheme.
He said the choice of Okereke-Linus was informed by her contributions to youth empowerment and for being a role model to many young Nigerians.
“This programme is born out of the enormous challenges young aspiring entrepreneurs and students go through in their quest toward achieving set goals in their small scale businesses and academic pursuits.
“NYPF has been in the lead of building the next generation of business frontiers and created huge impact with our educational intervention programmes for children in rural communities across the nation.
“YESGrant targets to generate jobs, encourage and support aspiring entrepreneurs in Nigeria to develop and execute business ideas that will create jobs and lead to self-reliance.”
Siasia said the grant would be open to both male and female between the ages of 18 to 40 years.
He said: “It will attract ideas and innovations from young entrepreneurial postulants from universities, polytechnics, technical colleges and other post-secondary institutions in Nigeria.
“Provide a onetime grant for over 500 selected aspiring entrepreneurs to start or expand their business concepts and mitigate start up risks.
“Generate 50,000 to 60,000 new jobs for currently unemployed young Nigerians over five years period, during which five cycles will be implemented.
“Enable Nigerian students with extreme financial need to pursue their academic dreams and aspirations as well as encourage research and innovation.
“Students studying in Nigeria will receive up to N500,000, while those studying in the UK will receive up to 3,000 pounds; those studying in the US will receive up to 5,000 dollars annually.”
Siasia said the recipients would be registered members of NYPF.
He said the Heritage Bank team to the event was led by Adebayo Ogunnusi, Group Head, Product Concept, while NYPF was represented by Siasia and Vivian Achuonye, Director of Entrepreneurship.
NAN.