Eight youths have emerged winners of the British Council’s Youth Connect Programme in Jigawa state, earning a grant of N2 million to develop their business ideas.
The Youths Sustainable Enterprise Challenge was convened by the British Council in partnership with Kings Trust International and the Jigawa State government to drive entrepreneurship among young people.
The Representative of the British Council at the event, Dr. Yahaya Janga, tasked the winners and other beneficiaries of the grant to use the support they received to enhance their skills and set up sustainable businesses.
Dr. Janga who is the Council’s Program Manager for Non-formal Education, commended the Jigawa State government for its support towards the actualization of the entrepreneurship project.
He expressed appreciation to the project’s implementing partner, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), for the running the eight weeks intensive training, and the Federal University Dutse which identified competent youths for the training.
In a remark, the Executive Director of CITAD, Professor Yunusa Zakari Ya’u, said the project represents a concerted effort to bridge gaps, by equipping young people with market-relevant competencies that enhance employability and foster self-employment.
Represented by an official of the agency, Malam Isa Garba, Professor Zakari Ya’u explained that 80 young people participated in the training out of whom eight recipients received the seed grants.
“This is a milestone of translating training into business opportunities, after a practical entrepreneurship training, focused on digital skills, ICT, marketing and soft skills”, he said.
He noted that the seed funding was realized through a competitive pitch process leading to seed grants for the most promising ventures, encouraging youth-led innovation and self-reliance
In a speech, Jigawa state Commissioner for Information, Youth and Sports, Alhaji Sagir Musa Ahmed, commended the program noting that the state government accords priority to youth empowerment.
Represented by the Deputy Director Youths of the Ministry, Malam Abbas Zakari Kafin Hausa, the commissioner tasked the beneficiaries on proper utilization of the skills they acquired and grants won at the competition.
Meanwhile, the winners and other beneficiaries commended the British Council, Kings Trust International, and Centre for Information, Technology and Development (CITAD), for the organizing the training.
Radio Nigeria reports that, the winners were given a grant of N250,000 each.
COV/USMAN MZ
