An agricultural entrepreneur, Mr Yero Ahmed, has advised Nigerian youths to take due advantage of the huge opportunities existing in the nation’s agricultural sector to create employment for themselves.
He gave the advice on Monday at a Business Challenge Pitch event, organised by the Skills Outside School (SOS) Foundation for the youth in Abuja.
Ahmed said: “There is no need of waiting for government jobs; you can start agricultural projects in your neighbourhood.
“Before you know it, you will turn into a millionaire and become an employer of labour.’’
Speaking at the event, Miss Patricia Okolo, Headstart Programme Officer of SOS, said that Headstart was an entrepreneurship development programme put in place for youths aged between 18 and 35 years.
“The programme is in three stages; the first was the business capacity building phase, where we had about 98 entrepreneurs.
“We trained them on how to start and sustain their businesses, after which they submitted individual business plans. At the end of the day, we screened and chose the best ten plans.
“We have brought them here today to pitch their business ideas to investors, some of whom are present here to invest in their various businesses, ’’ Okolo said.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the best business plan, submitted by John Aremu, secured the highest capital of N200,000.
Jennifer Aguisobi and John Maton, who emerged the first and second runners, got N100,000 and N50,000 respectively.
Okolo said that the winners would be attached to particular business mentors who would guide them on how to utilise the funds that would be paid to them in tranches.
“Once we pay you, you already have business mentors who will ensure that agricultural feeds and equipment are monitored and evaluated.
“We also have a monitoring and evaluation team that would come to your field and see the progress of work; when we are satisfied, we will release the next tranche of funds,’’ she said.
Okole urged the winners to make judicious use of the capital, adding that they should remain focused to ensure the fulfilment of the objectives of the programme.
