NYPF partners artistes to empower indigenous entrepreneurs

The Nigerian Young Professionals Forum(NYPF) is partnering with popular Nigerian artistes Tuface Idibia and Stephanie Okereke-Linus to empower indigenous entrepreneurs, Owomilere Obe, NYPF’s director of communications, said in statement.

The statement, made available to newsmen in Abuja, said the partnership was in tandem with NYPF’s commitment to promoting self-reliance among young Nigerians.

It said Idibia and Okereke-Linus were new NYPF ambassadors and would participate in the forum’s events that connected entrepreneurs at home and abroad.
“They will lend their voices to projects that stimulate a start-up culture in Nigeria. They will also harness their own ideas and experiences to the NYPF goal, which is to develop the next generation of entrepreneurs through easy access to capital for innovative ideas and education,’’ the statement said.

The statement disclosed that Moses Siasia, NYPF’s chairman, had, during the signing ceremony in Lagos last Wednesday, said Idibia and Stephanie were chosen to champion the group owing to their uniqueness.

“As you know, Tuface is one of Africa’s finest artistes, while Stephanie has featured and produced movies that have been shown all over the world.

“These two young individuals have created jobs for Nigerians and we believe that as ambassadors, they can use their experience to inspire other bright Nigerians to achieve their educational goals or become self-employed on a sustainable basis,’’ the statement quoted Siasia as saying.

The statement said NYPF had, in March, launched a N500 million seed funds for members in partnership with Heritage Bank.
It said the fund called the Young Entrepreneurs and Students Grants (YESGrant) was provided by NYPF and disbursed by Heritage Bank, adding that it was available through the grant’s online application system www.yesgrant.com.

According to the statement, the grant is available to both men and women with innovative ideas under the ages of 40.

Harrison Edeh