By Emmanuel Yatai
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday empowered 870 youths in Plateau with cash and other items.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the move was under the Renew Hope Scale-Up Grant, an initiative of Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, the National Chairman of the party.
Mr Ezekiel Gomos, the Project Manager, said that the beneficiaries received cash grants, tricycles, sewing machines, welding and fabricating tools.
Other items, he said included grinding machines, auto mechanic tool box, carpentry tool box, phone repair tool box, among others.
Gomos said that 48,000 youths applied online, demonstrating the hunger, energy and entrepreneurial spirit across the state.
“Due to the large number of applicants, the selection process was rigorous, systematic and evidence-based.
“Each applicant was required to submit a business plan, which served as the foundation for review process.
“We painstakingly and meticulously examined all the 48,000 submissions to know the viability of the enterprise, realistic used of the grant, potential growth and capacity to create employment,” he said.
Gomos explained that 1,400 young entrepreneurs in the state were equally benefitted from cash grants worth N280 million.
The project manager, who congratulated all the beneficiaries, urged them to make best use of the opportunity.
“This grant represent both an opportunity and a responsibility; it’s not free money to spend, but seed capital to invest wisely.
“You must therefore use it wisely, keep proper records, strengthen your business system, improve your products and services and demonstrate that support, when properly targeted can produce real results,” he said.
Speaking, Yilwatda, the APC Chairman, congratulated the beneficiaries and reiterated his commitments to continually support the youths to be self employed.
“Today I am here to entrust some people; you may not be the most qualify, but it’s a privilege you have been selected.
“Do not take this as a right, but as a privilege; use the privilege to build yourself so that in years to come, we will see the outcome of what you have done,” he advised (NAN)(www.nannews.com)
EDY/AZA
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Edited by Polycarp Auta
