The Nigerian Young Professionals Forum (NYPF), has lauded the enviable strides of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele towards supporting the development of human capacity, especially among young people in the Niger Delta Region.
Speaking by the sidelines of the 2nd Niger Delta MSME Summit held in Asaba Delta State over the weekend, Chairman of the Nigerian Young Professionals Forum (NYPF) and Convener of the Summit, Moses Siloko Siasia, immensely appreciated the support given by Mr. Emefiele to ensure the success of the Summit, stressing that the CBN Governor who is from Delta State, has been relentless in promoting human capacity building and creating purposeful opportunities for young people in the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.
According to him: “The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele is one of the most diligent and determined public servants in Nigeria whose track record in human capacity building and creating purposeful opportunities for young people is unparalleled.
“Notable among numerous interventions initiated by the CBN under Emefiele’s leadership to productively engage youths and promote the spirit of entrepreneurship is the National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) which saw the apex bank released N3.0 billion to 7,057 beneficiaries, of which 4,411 were individuals and 2,646 SMEs.
“Emefiele’s presence is also felt in Nigeria’s youth-dominant creative industry where N3.22 billion was disbursed to 356 beneficiaries across movie production, movie distribution, software development, fashion, and IT verticals, under the Creative Industry Financing Initiative (CIFI).
“Do you know that Emefiele’s-led CBN in collaboration with Heritage Bank, inaugurated the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Programme (YEDP) in March 2016 and has through the programme developed the entrepreneurial capacity of youths as well as provided them with funds up to N3m each?
“It is also worthwhile to note that millions of business owners around the country have benefitted from the CBN Covid-19 Intervention Fund since the outbreak of the pandemic, to mitigate the impact on households and their businesses.
“Charity as they say, begins at home. It is for that reason Mr Emefiele has thrown his weight towards redirecting the kidnapping, militancy and destructive tendencies of youths in the Niger Delta region where he hails from by supporting several MSME programmes including the the 2022 Niger Delta MSME Summit.”
The young professionals also commended the Nigerian Content and Development Board (NCDMB) led by Engr Simbi Wabote, as well as the Heritage Bank led Ifie Sekibo, both of whom are from the Niger Delta.
The 2022 Niger Delta MSME Summit which is the 48th event to be organised by the NYPF, was jointly organised by the Niger Delta Young Professionals (NYDP).
The summit saw the convergence of over one thousand participants from the nine Niger Delta states who gathered to build on the success of the innaugural Summit held last year, where over 300 Niger Deltans benefited from the NIRSAL intervention loan for small business owners in the area of Agriculture.
High point of this year’s Niger Delta MSME summit was the sharing of heart touching testimonies by some successful business owners in the Niger Delta.
They appreciated stakeholders for the platform, stressing that they have grown successful businesses with youths under their employment, thereby creating jobs.
Five young entrepreneurs with standout businesses, got a grant of N500,000 each to expand their businesses. Also, Engineering Firm, BlueCamel Energy Limited, owned by Mr Suleiman Yusuf, set aside another N25m to support five start-up engineers. Another N10m was set aside by the NYPF to support prospective businesses.
The third edition of the Niger Delta MSME Summit will be held in Akwa Ibom State in 2023.
