Photo caption- Founder Activate Success International Foundation (ASIF), Ms. Love Idoko; Executive Director, YIAGA Africa, Mr. Samson Itodo and Representative of Nestle, Ms. Liola Kienka at the Nestle Sponsored Youth Entrepreneurship and Empowerment programme (YEEP) put together by ASIF.
Popular multinational company, Nestle has sponsored the presentation of start-up grants to the beneficiaries of the 2019 edition of Youth Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Programme (YEEP). Put together by Activate Success International Foundation (ASIF), the beneficiaries of the programme were drawn from Kano, Benue, Kogi, Abuja, Niger, Delta and Plateau states respectively out of over 100 business proposals received from about 1000 youths who recently participated in the empowerment programme.
TV Host and Founder of ASIF, Ms. Love Idoko said that YEEP was aimed at helping and encouraging young people to maximise their potentials. The beneficiaries, who were given their cheques at a brief event included those who were into fish farming, arts and craft, food processing, fashion, Information Technology and skin care products. “The programme is held once every year; where youths register from all over Nigeria. We have people coming from all the states of the federation to attend this event and then we bring in young CEOs that have made remarkable achievements in different fields to speak to them and share their success stories”.
Idoko said while there were talents everywhere, the difference is how individuals utilise their talents. “The youths can influence growth in a nation’s economy in many ways because a lot of young people are talented; they are gifted; they have amazing ideas but they lack the support to maximise their potentials; they lack the support to implement what they have; to translate their mental picture into actual pictures. Every problem is an opportunity to make money. I advise all of you not to give up because your story is about to change”.
While appreciating NESTLE Nigeria for sponsoring the Grants, she added that between May 2018 and now, the foundation had empowered over 60 youths. “What we do is to identify young people with fantastic business ideas. A panel goes through these ideas; selects those with the best ideas and then we give them startup funds to help them achieve their dreams. We have a team that monitors the beneficiaries. We have success stories of people who we have supported and today, they are doing amazingly well in different fields. We receive reports from them quarterly. We are proud and happy to say that this programme has really inspired and helped a lot of young people. We are looking forward to amazing testimonies from you (the beneficiaries). Success is intentional, so whatever you go through, please don’t give up,” she admonished the recipients”.