ENDIP Empowers 60 Young Entrepreneurs in the Southeast Region
In a bid to foster economic growth and create sustainable employment opportunities, Entrepreneurial Development Initiative (ENDIP), a non-governmental organisation, has successfully concluded the first phase of its sustainable enterprise challenge initiative. The initiative, funded by the British Council in partnership with King’s Trust International, aimed to train and empower 60 young entrepreneurs from the southeast region of Nigeria.
The Sustainable Enterprise Challenge Programme, a pilot youth-focused, intensive four-week program held in Enugu, brought together a diverse group of budding entrepreneurs, including Persons Living with Disabilities. Through workshops, training sessions, and hands-on activities, participants sharpened their business acumen, developed vital entrepreneurial skills, and gained practical knowledge in areas such as business planning, pitching, employability, and digital literacy.
One of the highlights of the initiative was the inclusive business pitch session, where eight outstanding participants competed for seed funding to kick-start their innovative business ideas. The winners, Asogwa Ogechi Patience, Victor Chinaza Okereke, Victor Chimdimdu Nwabueze, and others, secured N250,000 each to support their ventures.
Executive Director of ENDIP, Lilian Ovio, expressed pride in the participants’ dedication and passion, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to empowering youth and combating poverty through sustainable entrepreneurship. The success of the program has inspired the organization to launch a second phase project focused on comprehensive mentorship to further support small and medium-sized enterprises in the region.
Beneficiaries like Victor Okereke and Nwabueze Victor expressed gratitude for the program’s impact on their businesses and vowed to leverage the knowledge gained to drive future success. With the support of ENDIP and its partners, these young entrepreneurs are poised to make a lasting impact in their communities and contribute to the economic development of Nigeria.