IT has been noted that white-collar jobs are no longer a viable option for many, especially young people, and that traditional employment routes are not yielding the desired outcomes.

These are the convictions of the lead pastor of Victory Life Bible Church International, Apostle Lawrence Achudume.

He said that to eradicate poverty in the country, leaders and stakeholders across Nigeria’s socio-economic spectrum must acknowledge “this pressing reality and highlight the need for alternative pathways for youth advancement, contributing to a brighter outlook for tomorrow’s Nigerians”.

According to a statement yesterday, Achudume made the call on Sunday during the disbursement of ₦15 million to empower talented young entrepreneurs across multiple sectors, including catering, logistics, tailoring, fashion designing, and shoe-making. The empowerment was made at the end of the Youth on Fire programme, the yearly youth outreach initiative of Victory Life Bible Church International.

Speaking with journalists after the event, the cleric said: “The beneficiaries were segmented into three distinct categories. The first group received fully sponsored training in cutting-edge areas like graphic design. The second category was provided financial support along with brand-new equipment, such as sewing machines. The third group received financial grants ranging from ₦300,000 to ₦3 million to bolster their entrepreneurial endeavours.”

According to Achudume, the aim is to foster self-reliance among young people. “Youths must seize the initiative to build their own future. We can’t rely on white-collar jobs that are increasingly scarce; we must foster prosperity through entrepreneurship,” he said.

Reiterating his wife’s profound passion for youth development and entrepreneurship, Achudume said the gesture was in her memory, stressing that he and his late wife, Rev Fola Achudume, had always believed youths must be given an enabling environment to thrive.

“Entrepreneurship is a powerful pathway out of poverty. It’s about arming our youths with the tools they need to stand on their own feet and create opportunities, not just for themselves, but for others as well,” he emphasised.

Echoing Achudume’s sentiments, the Founder and CEO of Pomegranate Nigeria Limited, Mr Wole Elusakin, who collaborated with Prof Eniola Fabusoro and Dr Toyin Banjo to select the beneficiaries, said: “Youths represent tomorrow’s trajectory; they need an ecosystem that enables them to excel. This is an investment in Nigeria’s future.”