The Nasarawa State Government has partnered with Interweave Solutions International to empower 3,500 youths with entrepreneurship skills and N1 billion as funding to set up their businesses to make them self-reliant.
Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State disclosed while speaking during the distribution of the fund to the pilot group of 50 youths on Thursday in Lafia.
Sule said that the programme was a counterpart arrangement, where the partner provided N500 million, and the state government matched the amount with N500 million, totaling N1 billion.
Sule added that the first phase of the programme had 50 youths who were carefully selected from the 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state and trained in modern techniques to succeed in business.
He said that the initiative was part of the government’s efforts to promote entrepreneurship development, tackle unemployment, and reduce restiveness in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
The governor, however, said that the money would given to the beneficiaries as grants to enable them to start and sustain their businesses.
On his part, Yakubu Kwanta, Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, said that the initiative was aimed at making a positive impact on the youths to make them self-reliant and contribute to the economic development of the state.
Kwanta noted that the development and empowerment of the youths was one of the top priorities of the governor Sule -led administration.
He said that the government since inception in 2019 had carried out a lot of youths empowerment programmes because the youths constitute over 70 percent of the state’s population.
He added that the government intended 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 in to enable them to receive training and support.,” Kwanta added.
On his part, Dr Exodus Esuku-Ibor, Country Director of Interweave Solutions International appreciated the Nasarawa 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. (www.krestnews.com).
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