Plans are in top-gear at Abuja Entreprise Agency (AEA) to start the Abuja Business School of Entrepreneurship as the Agency, on Thursday, graduated about 50 serving Youth Corps Members from the first batch of the 2024 Youth Entrepreneurship Programme (YEP).
AEA's Ag. Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Chudi Ugwuada-Ezirigwe, who disclosed this in his welcome address at the Closing Ceremony of YEP, said the decision to commence the school was part of efforts to position the Agency's Human Resource Capacity and Entrepreneurial development.
Mr. Ezirigwe thanked the Hon. Minister of FCT, Chief Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, along with the Hon. Minister of State, FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmud, as well as the Head of Service, FCT, Dr. Samuel Atang. He also commended all the participants for the successful completion of the training programme which started on March 29, 2024.
The Youth Entrepreneurship Programme, according to the CEO, is a capacity-building programme which has so far graduated more than 20,000 Corps Members since 2007 and is targeted at the Nigerian Youth, Serving Corps Members (NYSC), fresh graduates and unemployed youths.
He said "entrepreneurship is the bedrock of the socio-economic development of every nation and a larger percentage of the drivers of this development are the workforce which mostly is made up of the youth.
"Fostering effective entrepreneurial activity among the youth is therefore considered a critical development strategy required to integrate them into the labour market and harness their potential to contribute to sustainable economic development."
In his brief remarks at the occasion, the Head of the Civil Service of FCT, Dr. Samuel Atang, said the exemplary leadership of the Minister of FCT, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, and Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, will continue to place priority in youth development and its intervention in the Enterprise Development sub-sector.
The Head of Service who was represented by the Director of Reforms Coordination and Service Improvement, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, congratulated all the participants for the successful completion of the intensive training programme.
He described the AEA as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for critical interventions in the SME sub-sector towards facilitating the Ease of Doing Business in FCT.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of innovative ideas by seven participants after which a panel of Judges and industry experts evaluated and selected the three most innovative ideas.
Dignitaries drawn from Abuja Investment Company Ltd, Securities and Exchange Commission, FCT Internal Revenue Service, Nigerian Export Promotion, National Human Rights Commission as well as Jaiz Bank graced the occasion as well as partnered in sponsoring the event.
