By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Kwara Government, on Wednesday in Ilorin, empowered 30 youth innovators in entrepreneurship and other skills to establish their businesses.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme is the Young Africa Innovates (YAI), Kwara State Innovation Showcase.
The theme of the programme is “Igniting Innovation-Youth Solutions for the Future”.
In her opening address, Ms Elsie Attafuah, the UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, said the YAI programme is a partnership between the UNDP and the MasterCard Foundation.
According to her, it aims at catalysing youth-led innovation to drive socio-economic development.
Attafuah, represented by the Incubation Specialist on the YAI programme, Mrs Catherine Ibrahim, explained that the programme focused on identifying, incubating and scaling innovations of young people across diverse sectors.
She pointed out that innovation wasn’t just about technology but solving real problems that affect real people.
“The State Showcase is a celebration of young people building climate solutions, inclusive fintech tools, waste-to-wealth platforms and agro-logistics systems,” she said.
She further explained that the programme would empower youths from marginalised and rural communities.
Attafuah pointed out that over 9,000 youths across seven states applied, adding that the number was later streamlined to 30 innovators per state, resulting in 210 innovators.
“The 30 innovators have undergone four months of intensive mentorship training, capacity building and also seed funding for their innovation and businesses.
“The seed funding is meant to help them scale their solutions. The essence of the YAI programme is to bring solutions that are peculiar to the community,” she said.
The Managing Director of the Ilorin Innovation Hub, Mr Temi Kolawole, described Nigerian youths as innovative but in need of guidance to bring out their creativity.
“The UNDP has taken the innovation to rural areas, to compounds and wards level, where people have been sensitised about the opportunity to showcase their innovation,” he said.
According to him, people with disabilities are not left behind.
“The future is innovation and entrepreneurship, as the government cannot employ everyone,” he said.
He charged the teeming Nigerian youth to brace up and key into innovations and entrepreneurship, saying they could become a workforce to transform the African development drive.
Mrs Bilkis Abdulkadir, one of the innovators and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bazkkam Para-Sports Academy, commended the organisers.
She said the intervention had provided people living with disabilities a platform to showcase their talents, especially in sporting activities, despite their status.
On his part, the CEO of Harmony Natural Fruits Drinks, Mr Abdulsalam Hussein, described the programme as a wonderful experience that had helped to reshape his idea.
According to him, he now has an idea of turning waste from fruits into organic manure. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Yinusa Ishola and Moses Solanke
