An NGO Empowers 59 youths on Entrepreneurship in Imo

From Victor Duruamaku Owerri

A Royal Non-Governmental Organisation, (NGO) known as Eze Mitchell Egbukole Foundation, Monday empowered 59 youths of three local government areas of Imo state on various entrepreneurial skills

The foundation, being very enthusiastic about helping the revival of the nation’s battered economy, empowered the beneficiaries with the sum of one million naira each (N1m ) each

Speaking at the ceremony which took place at the Palace of the Traditional Ruler of Egbu Community in Owerri North LGA of Imo state the founder and Chief executive officer of the founder of the foundation, Prince Ikenna Egbukole said that the foundation was established to honour the legacy of his late father, HRH Eze ,(Sir) Mitchell Egbukole, the Ochonma the IV of Egbu autonomous community

According to him, ” he was a visionary leader who believed deeply in the power of education and entrepreneurship to transform lives and Communities, ”

He further explained that in the year 2019, the foundation launched it’s, first youths entrepreneurship scheme to commemorate the 20th of their father’s passing

Prince Ikenna Egbukole revealed that the initial programme of the foundation, focused on Egbu autonomous community, then awarding N1million to each five promising young entrepreneurs and N300,000 each to three others totalling N5.9 m

He said, ” today, 5yesrs later, we gather to celebrate the tremendous growth of our initiative”

” the second edition of the scheme has expanded it’s reach to include 48 Communities across Owerri Owerri North, Owerri West, and Owerri Municipal council areas” he said, pointing out that the foundation has also increased it’s funding almost tenfold to N54.5 million

The Chief executive officer, also revealed that the response to this year’s programme has been over whelming as the foundation received 1,130 applications from ambitious young people across these communities saying that the foundation resources allowed the funding of a select number

However, he explained that the selection process was very rigorous and impartial as it engaged an independent Canadian company, ” Ogutal” to evaluate the applications based on criteria including, business, knowledge, marketing strategy, customer understanding, business viability, scalability and proposed use of funds

He congratulated the beneficiaries saying that they emerged successfully from highly competitive process with a five percent success rate

Also speaking, the Director General of the foundation, Rear Admiral Sunday Lawal Bake (rtd), noted that the foundation was celebrating 25yrs memorial of late Nigerian patriot Eze Mitchell Egbukole

According to him, ” this moment, calls fore sober reflection for us all to learn lasting lessons from the glorious life of trajectory of the ICON whose memory the foundation is celebrating

He further noted that his royal Highness of blessed memory played his part in nation building, economic and social development and promotion of entrepreneurship

The DG saw late Eze Egbukole as visionary and unifier of good and compassion pointing out that the seed he planted are bearing fruits 25yrs after