Written by Tony Eri
The Anambra State Ministry of Youth Development, in partnership with Unizik Business School, has launched a mentorship program for its “1 Youth 2 Skills” initiative.
The program, aimed at empowering young entrepreneurs, was kicked off with a symposium titled “Effective Mentoring for Business Success and Sustainability.”
The Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr. Patrick Agha Mba, commended Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo for his commitment to youth development and highlighted the program’s goal of creating jobs and raising “one thousand youth millionaires annually.”
He also commended the Minister of State for Youth, Hon. Ayodele Olawande, for his well-articulated program for the Nigerian youths and capacity building, contributing to the overall development of the NYSC.
Under the initiative, 5,000 young entrepreneurs have received funding to start their businesses. The mentorship program will connect them with experienced professionals who will guide them for a year.
The partnership with Unizik Business School ensures quality mentorship services. Aspiring mentors will undergo training and receive a unique framework to effectively support the beneficiaries.
‘’It is my pleasure and honor, to be here to address our aspiring mentors who will be mentoring beneficiaries of the 1 youth 2 skills pilot phase in line with “The People’s manifesto”, massively creating private sector jobs and raising one thousand youth millionaires annually. It was unprecedented and a remarkable achievement of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo.
“Under the 1 youth 2 skills program, 5000 beneficiaries received cheques in their various local governments of business operation. The cheque reflects funding for each of the successful beneficiaries to procure relevant equipment to startup his or her business. This innovative and holistic youth development program cannot be completed without a sustainable component which is the 1 youth 2 skills mentorship.
“The mentorship aspect of 1 youth 2 skills program is a very critical component that must be implemented for business growth and sustainability. Our new, young entrepreneurs need mentors who will be available in their communities to guide them at this very critical stage of business formation for one year mentorship in line with the action plan of the ministry.
“Today, the partnership with Unizik Business School has provided the platform for quality service delivery in the entrepreneurship and mentorship component of the program. However, for you to be part of our professional mentors for this program, you will be presented with a unique mentorship framework to guide our beneficiaries on their businesses,” Agha Mba said.
“The framework designed for the scheme is innovative enough to incorporate factors that will enable community based start-ups and existing businesses to thrive. I therefore urge each of our aspiring mentors to pay keen attention and participate effectively in this mentorship symposium in order to be able to effectively deliver a much needed quality assurance and impact.
“This is the only way we can raise the next generation of smart entrepreneurs that will create more jobs and increase the growth of our GDP. I am fully confident that the result of this symposium will lead to a successful mentorship program just like other core components of this program.
“You can recall the methodology of this scheme ranging from apprenticeship, entrepreneurship, setting up of corporative society, financing and mentorship and i hereby declare this symposium open, the Commissioner said.
Earlier, Dr. Ogochukwu Soludo, keynote speaker who is the General Missions Director of African Missionary Empowerment Network and Governor Soludo’s brother, emphasized the importance of collaboration among young entrepreneurs. He encouraged them to form cooperative societies for better opportunities and success.
Speaking on the dynamics of effectively managing a cooperative society and sharing his own experience, Dr. Ogochukwu Soludo noted that the Chinese, Indians, and Lebanese organize themselves as a team and sometimes in support of their home government.
“When they come into a new place,” he said, “they are being received well by their host communities and given favorable terms of residence because they come as a group and oftentimes come equipped financially to be able to do business. People see them as bringing value, and they give them concessions. But our own people tend to go the other way round, being a one-man effort. In doing that, there is unhealthy competition. We need to look back at these things and see how we can work better together.”
Dr. Ogochukwu then explained the essential ingredients that make for effective management of a cooperative society. “There are five basic elements,” he said, “which are sincerity of purpose, credibility, transparency, prudence in management of resources, and an equitable template for distributing the surplus.”
On his part, the Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Charles Esimone, commended Governor Soludo for his zeal and commitment in empowering Anambra youths. He applauded the initiative’s impact and urged beneficiaries to seize the opportunity to combat unemployment and achieve their goals.
Also speaking, Prof. Chinedu Onyeizugbe, Director of Unizik Business School, highlighted the careful selection process for mentors and the program’s monitoring system, ensuring its effectiveness and impact.
This initiative underscores the Anambra State government’s dedication to youth empowerment and its focus on fostering a new generation of successful entrepreneurs.
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