The House of Representatives has promised to implement favourable policies that will strengthen young entrepreneurs.
The Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu made the promise at the 7th edition of the Ugwumba Enterprise Challenge in Abuja.
Mr. Kalu said the foundation through the challenge in the past had made tremendous impact in transforming the lives of Nigerian youths and women.
The Deputy Speaker applauded the center for training over 5000 women in small and medium businesses and empowering over 20,000 youths.
Kalu who commended the center’s contribution noted that entrepreneurship is not all about profit making.
In his welcome address, the President of the Ugwumba Leadership Center for development for Africa and convener of the challenge, Uche Nwosu in his remarks stated that the Challenge is his only way of showing support to Nigeria’s young entrepreneurs.
Nwosu added that the centre has supported more than 7,000 SMEs, established young entrepreneurs within the country.
“The only thing that keeps motivating us are the success stories from the beneficiaries, the ones standing behind us. Today these young Nigerians have become employers of labour and are helping us to achieve one of the major objectives, which is reducing youth unemployment in our dear country” Nwosu emphasized
Ugwumba Nwosu added that this year, the foundation would be empowering 200 women from the poorest background across the nation with N20,000 each.
In his presentation, the former minister of information, Frank Nweke Junior, urged youths to embrace entrepreneurship through innovative and practical education.
Nweke, who is also a former minister of information, commended the President of the Centre for his countless contributions to national development and poverty alleviation.
Earlier, the inspector general of police, Kayode Egbetokun represented by Deputy Inspector General of police, Benedict Igwe who appealed to youths not to take to crime added that most youths were involved in crimes due to lack of meaningful source of livelihoods.
Egbetokun, who called on Nigerian youths to be innovative, said entrepreneurship pays more than white-collar jobs.
On his part, the Director General of the Ugwumba leadership Centre for Development in Africa, Mr. Remy Chukwunyere
stated that the essence of the challenge is to curb unemployment among Nigerian youths.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of cheques to winners of the Ugwumba enterprise challenge.
By Georgina Humphrey
