Support for entrepreneurs will create clusters of economic growth- AYEEN
The Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs Empowerment Nigeria (AYEEN), a non profit organisation, has called for more support of entrepreneurs to create clusters of economic growth and development in Nigeria and across Africa.
The organisation made this known to journalists weekend in Lagos during the signing of the partnership agreement with Airopay, an e-payment app, to empower start-ups for AYEEN2017.
“It is very worrisome that most corporate organisations in Nigeria are more interested in the sponsorship of non- intellectual, short-term and non-defining projects and television shows,” said Summy Francis, president, Africa Youth Entrepreneurs (AYE).
“If we are serious about securing the future, corporate organisations and businesses must support Africa’s young entrepreneurs to create clusters of economic growth in Nigeria and Africa,” Francis said.
He stated that the continent cannot develop without adequate investments in start-ups, stating that this would help create jobs and increase productivity, thereby creating economic growth and development.
The AYE president spoke about the success the organisation as recorded in its 2014,2015 and 2016 youth empowerment programmes, promising that the 2017 edition would be more innovative as more beneficiaries would be empowered with grants, training and mentorship.
He called on Nigerians with excellent business ideas to apply for the empowerment programme by login in to the organisation’s website.
Also speaking, Charles Oyakhilome, chief executive officer, Airoplay said, “We are very glad to be part of this initiative because this is what our organisation loves to do. We partnered with AYEEN2017 because of what the programme is doing for entrepreneurs in Nigeria.”
“The initiative is affecting millions of lives in the country and Africa,” he added.
Olubumi Oluwadare, national head, AYE, said the project was coming at a time the country needed to spur growth to come out of the current economic downturn. “There is no better time to propagate this initiative in Nigeria than now,”Oluwadare said.
Josephine Okojie