by Lekan Olanrewaju

THE Federal Government on Monday announced that about 1,200 Nigerian youths had emerged winners of the recently introduced Youths Enterprise with Innovation (YOUWIN) programme.

The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, announced this while announcing the completion of the first cycle of the programme. She described the successful completion of  the process as  sign of the president’s focus on job creation.

“YOUWIN is a statement of faith in the ability of the youth of this country to achieve results not only for themselves but for other youths.” she said. “The results show that Nigerian youths from every part of the country are talented, hard working and enterprising. They have risen magnificently to the challenge.”

She stated that the objectives of the program included promoting innovation among entrepreneurial youths, identifying and training 6,000 entrepreneurs whose existing small businesses or new business ideas show promise and identifying 1,200 winners based on their business plans including at least 150 in each geopolitical zone among others.

She also revealed that the  government would be providing of grants of between one and ten million naira depending on the business concept which would be disbursed in tranches over 12 to 18 months and facilitate business registration or incorporation with the Corporate Affairs Commission.