19th December, 2017
Nigeria’s youths will achieve more if they collaborate on projects that will benefit them and also boost the nation’s capacity in innovation and technology, says Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Osinbajo said this when he received a delegation of young Nigerian innovators and beneficiaries of grants from the Growth and Employment (GEM) Project, an initiative of the Federal Government.
The initiative is under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and supported by the World Bank and the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
In furtherance of the Buhari administration’s economic empowerment initiatives, the project empowers young Nigerian innovators and entrepreneurs with sustainable and innovative business models that would create more jobs for Nigerians and contribute to the nation’s economic growth.
“I am happy that everyone is a co-founder; it speaks to what we say about collaboration and working together, and also with international players,” the Vice President said.
At the meeting, the young entrepreneurs showcased their business models during short presentations which Osinbajo commended them for and then engaged them with questions on the sustainability of their laudable ideas.
It would be recalled that the innovators were selected following the Aso Villa Demo Day (AVDD), a technological innovation competition organised by the Presidency earlier in the year.
In his remarks, the Project Coordinator of the GEM Project, Mr Ugo Ikemba, thanked the Vice President for all the support the Buhari administration has given to the project since its inception.
He said the project would continue to find platforms to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by enabling them to get more access to funding.
Also, the Director-General, Nigerian Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr Jelani Aliyu, thanked the Presidency for providing leadership that supports and empowers young Nigerians to dream and innovate.