The Chief Executive Officer of Connak Foundation Entrepreneurship Initiative (COFEI), Carole Emeka Sunday, has proffered solutions to the challenges associated with youth unemployment in the country.
Speaking during the presentation of grants to 40 trainees in Abuja, she charged the youths to look inward and acquire skills to be self-reliant.
She frowned at the idea of able-bodied youths, especially graduates dissipating their energies and waiting endlessly for white-collar jobs from government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
“The solution to youth unemployment is simple, what I always tell them is they should look inwards. There is something you can always can do. The beautiful thing is take the first step and the rest would follow through,” she said.
“Don’t sit down at home looking for an already made job. Create the jobs yourself and endeavour to employ others. There’s nobody that doesn’t have something to give out. Look inwards and take the bull by the horns. If you forcefully step out you will find that before you know it you are a big business mogul.
“For instance, if you can make hair start small. Sometimes our young people want somebody to give them N10 million to rent a house, rent a shop to start business. If you start that way the chances that you will go back to where you are coming from.”
Dr Emeka Unachukwu, the lead consultant for the COFEI project explained that grantees numbering 40 whose products have been certified by NAFDAC and other regulatory outfits were selected from among 900 entrepreneurs from across the country after a rigorous training and screening exercise.
founder Connak foundation, Kenneth Nnamdi Ukeagu, charged the grantees to emulate the virtues of business moguls in the mold of Folorunsho Alakija, Juliet Anammah, Iyinoluwa Ayodeji, and Sim Shagaya in impacting positively their respective communities and industries.
“As you embark on this entrepreneurial journey, remember that every challenge is an opportunity in disguise. You may face setbacks, but those are the moments that will define you. Embrace them, learn from them, and use them to fuel your drive. Remember, the most successful entrepreneurs are those who learn to pivot and adapt,” he noted.
Highlights of the event are the presentation of a grant award of $1,500 to Churchill Okafor of Grandhille Farms Ltd, and others whose substantial grants support their businesses.
