FG Announces Over 180 Programmes to Assist Youth-Owned Businesses, Others

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said the Federal Government had unveiled more than 180 reform programmes to aid youth-owned businesses and enhance the business environment in the country at large.

Oduwole made this known during a programme held by Leap Africa in partnership with International Youth Foundation and Sahara Foundation. The programme, which celebrated young innovators across Africa, had as its central theme, ‘Maximizing Africa’s Potential Through Disruptive Leadership and Innovation’.

The statement noted that the organisers convened over 1,500 entrepreneurs, funders, investors, business owners, social innovators, disruptive leaders, and change agents online and in person for the discourse.

In her keynote address, Oduwole was quoted to have stressed the importance of ethical innovation and urged young African innovators to embrace disruption for societal improvement. “Despite challenges, the continent is teeming with opportunities, and young leaders are spearheading change. Through a plethora of innovative approaches, the Nigerian government, under the PEBEC’s systemic intervention, has successfully implemented 180 reforms since 2016 to enhance the MSME business environment, including many youth-owned businesses,” she added.

Also quoted in the statement, Kehinde Ayeni, Executive Director, LEAP Africa, shared that “the Social Innovators Programme is LEAP Africa’s flagship programme that supports creative young Africans from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Cameroon, Burundi, Uganda, and Tanzania with ideas and initiatives to proffer practical solutions to identified challenges in local communities on the continent.”

She added that “now in its 10th year, LEAP Africa has supported over 279 social innovators with skills, mentorship, funding and network to scale their social enterprises.”

The statement further stated, “The climax of the two-day event was the celebration of fellows and alumni with awards and grants in collaboration with Sahara Foundation and International Youth Foundation up to $160,000. The awards presented include the Outstanding Fellows Award to the top ten fellows, the Innocent Chukwuma Award for Youth and Gender Empowerment in South Eastern Nigeria presented to Gift Muoneke of GreenEra Technology, and Seyi Bickersteth Award for Financial Accountability presented to Jolis Nduwinana of Wege Company.”
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