Intafact Hero’s foundation rewards budding entrepreneurs with N82m

The Intafact Hero’s Foundation Kickstart Programme; a CSI initiative of Intafact Beverages Limited has just concluded its 2nd award ceremony which rewarded 40 budding entrepreneurs’ with the sum of N82m.

Now in its second year, the Intafact Hero’s Foundation continues to promote and instil a culture of entrepreneurship among Nigerian youths to enable them reach their full potentials via the intensive training, seed capital and mentoring provided through its Kickstart progrmme.

“Through Intafact Hero’s Foundation- CSI programme, it has empowered Nigerian youths to contribute meaningfully to the economic growth of Nigeria especially as the programme has been expanded to accommodate more states such as Benue, Delta and Edo beyond the five south Eastern States which the programme started with”, said  Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, Chairman of Intafact Hero’s Foundation.

Also speaking at the event, the Executive Governor of Anambra State,  Willie Obiano encouraged the youths and awardees to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the Intafact Hero’s Foundation Kickstart Programme. He posited that “to become a successful entrepreneur, you must be passionate about your craft, resilient and disciplined, especially in the face of the current economic challenges. You must be ready to push ahead with the same strength, focus and vision that brought you to this point, and be ready to always go the extra mile and create value”. Governor Obiano, said his government has always empowered the youth and shall continue to do so while encouraging other companies to emulate Intafact Beverages Ltd.

Regional Director AB InBev and also a Trustee of the Foundation, Godwin Oche said that the Intafact Hero’s Foundation Programme is in line with AB InBev’s desire to deliver on its sustainable development objectives by helping to nurture prosperous and healthy communities. He also called on the successful awardees to use the grants they have received judiciously to grow their businesses. Explaining the programme further, he said: “in order to assist the awardees actualise their dreams, they will be mentored and guided for a period of one year by mentors, seasoned in the field of business and entrepreneurship”.

The awardees who had earlier received rigorous and intensive business training in June 2017 at the Business School of the Nnamdi Azikwe, University, Awka expressed their gratitude to Intafact Beverages for the opportunity to pursue their dreams, saying the funds would go a long way to setting up and expanding their businesses.

Aluchuru Chukwunonso, one of the recipients’ who got N3m for his paper production business said he would be eternally grateful to the Intafact Hero’s Foundation for making his lifelong dream to become a reality.

FRANK UZUEGBUNAM