Reps pledges support for young entrepreneurs

The House of Representatives has promised to implement favourable policies that will strengthen young entrepreneurs in the country.

Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu made the promise at the 7th edition of the Ugwumba Enterprise Challenge on Tuesday in Abuja.

Kalu said the foundation through the challenge in the past have tremendous move in transforming the lives of the Nigerian youths and women.

The Deputy Speaker commended the center for training over 5000 women in small and medium businesses and empowering over 20,000 youths.

The Deputy Speaker who commended the center’s contribution noted that entrepreneurship is not all about profit making.

Earlier in his welcome address, President of the Ugwumba Leadership Center for Development for Africa and convener of the challenge, Hon. Uche Nwosu said that the Challenge is his only way of showing support to Nigeria’s young entrepreneurs.

Nwosu said that it has supported more than 7,000 SMEs, established young entrepreneurs within the country since existence.

“The only thing that keeps motivating us are the success stories from the beneficiaries, the ones standing behind us. Today these young Nigerians have become employers of labour and are helping us to achieve one of the major objectives, which is reducing youth unemployment in our dear country,” Nwosu said.

He added that this year the foundation would be empowering 200 women from the poorest background across the nation with N20,000 each.

In his presentation the Former Minister of Youth Development, Mr Frank Nweke Junior urged Nigeria’s youths to move to entrepreneurship by embracing innovative and practical education.

Nweke who is also the former minister of information commended the President of the Center for his countless contribution to national development and poverty alleviation.

On his part, Director General of the Ugwumba leadership Center for Development in Africa, Mr. Remy Chukwunyere said that the essence of the challenge is to curb unemployment among the Nigerian youths.

The event also witnessed the presentation of N2m to winner of the Ugwumba enterprise challenge, Joseph Orya and the first runner up Blessing Ebere who got N1m.