As part of deliberate efforts to reduce youth unemployment levels in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc, one of the country’s top finance institutions, in partnership with Gazelle Academy and Federal Polytechnic, Oko Venture has just concluded an entrepreneurship training programme for 400 students in Anambra State.

Organised under the Fidelity Youth Empowerment Academy stream 3, the week-long training programme was aimed at equipping the students with skills and capabilities needed to take start businesses even whilst in school.

Some of the skill areas participants were trained on include fashion, accessories, cocktail, tailoring, and makeup, shoe making, digital marketing.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the third edition of the Fidelity Youth Empowerment Academy (YEA) held in Oko, Anambra State, the bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, noted that the initiative seeks to empower the polytechnic community by creating thriving business owners amongst students.

This, he explained, is in furtherance of the financial institution’s quest to not only tackle the nation’s unemployment challenges but improve the wellbeing of communities where it does business.

Mr. Okonkwo, who was represented by the Regional Bank Head (RBH), Enugu-Anambra-Ebonyi Region, Mr. Leonard Ezugwu, encouraged the participants who had successfully completed the programme aptly themed ‘Turning Your Passion Into Pay Cheque’ not to relent in their efforts to build highly successful businesses.

“I was impressed with your individual dedication and collective performance during training. Always motivate yourselves. You are indeed lucky to have been chosen as a participant. I therefore challenge you to go out there and make a success out of this for you twelves and please remember that the right attitude and a strong will to succeed will take you far,” he added.

Speaking in the same vein, Muna Onuzo, Founder, Gazelle Academy, thanked the participants for their zeal and active participation as evidenced by the number of things ranging from sandals, clothing apparels, beadworks, cocktails that were made by them and on display for visitors who thronged the school to witness the closing ceremony.

Onuzo, who noted that entrepreneurship remains the most viable solution to the current economic challenges, encouraged them to use the platform to gain financial freedom and self-reliance. “Go and make Fidelity Bank proud; go and make the Federal Polytechnic, Oko proud; go and make Gazzelle Academy proud,” said Onuzor.

In his address on the occasion, the Deputy Rector of the Polytechnic, Mrs Gladys Anene, commended Fidelity Bank for the initiative calling on other financial institutions to emulate the bank in giving back to the society through laudable youth empowerment programmes like YEA3.

On his part, Mr Alistair Soyode, Managing Director, BEN TV; the first black owned TV network in the United Kingdom, expressed his profound gratitude to Fidelity Bank and Gazelle Academy for organising such a laudable programme.

He also challenged the participants to make good use of the opportunity while stressing that no one is too young to be a leader or an entrepreneur. He urged them never to underestimate their abilities and stay and stay united as a team to achieve greater things.

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