Niger Delta: NDYP Calls For Government Participation In Entrepreneurship Drive

The Niger Delta Young Professionals (NDYP) has called for a government and private sector supportive ecosystem to drive the growth and development of young entrepreneurs in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region.

Coordinator of the NDYP, Mr. Gerald So-George, who made the call recently in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, while speaking at the 4th Niger Delta MSME Summit – a nongovernmental and purely private-driven initiative, stressed that governments in the region must recognize that “our youths are our greatest assets”, thus, a “viable ecosystem for government and the private sector to come together to further the growth and development of entrepreneurs in the region” must be created.

This, Mr. So-George said, includes “the provision of capital (seed and low-cost financial options), mentorship, and grooming”.

He highlighted the dual identity of the Niger Delta: a region rich in resources, but beset by challenges such as environmental degradation, social unrest, and economic neglect.

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He emphasized the untapped potential of the region’s human capital, particularly its young people, as a driving force for change. “The true strength of this region lies in its human capital—especially its youth. As Nigeria moves towards economic diversification, there is an urgent need for the young population in the Niger Delta to embrace entrepreneurship,” Mr. So-George charged.

He noted that so far, the Niger Delta MSME Summit, an initiative of the NDYP, has empowered over 2,304 individuals via personal grants, NCDMB loans and CBN Agric Loan Scheme. “Approximately 1,620 businesses have benefited, creating a cumulative total of about 4,319 direct and indirect jobs. This underscores the significant impact of our collective efforts and the potential for even greater achievements”.

He expressed optimism that the event which brought together over 1000 selected business owners, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders from across the nine oil-producing states in the Niger Delta, will help achieve the NDYP’s broader goals of economic transformation, inspiring a new generation of business leaders, and building a robust network of support for budding entrepreneurs. “Together, we can chart a new course for the Niger Delta, leveraging entrepreneurship to unlock its full potential and achieve lasting prosperity,” the NDYP added.

The 2024 Niger Delta MSME Summit with the theme: ‘Building a Culture of Entrepreneurship and Self-reliance Beyond Oil’, also had strategic Panel Sessions where panelists shared their thoughts on how partnerships can push the growth of Agriculture, and how funding can be unlocked to grow entrepreneurship.