Intafact Hero’s Foundation has concluded the business training of 120 youth entrepreneurs drawn from eight participating states of Anambra, Abia, Benue, Delta, Edo, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states.

The programme, which is a Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiative of Intafact Beverages Limited, is aimed at developing a local culture of entrepreneurship among Nigerian youths between the ages of 18 to 35 with the target of turning their business ideas into reality.

The five day intensive training took place at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State from June, 19 to 23, 2017.

Areas of training for the young entrepreneurs include, Concepts of entrepreneurship, how to generate business ideas (Opportunities, Identification and Selection); marketing strategies; financial strategies; organisational strategies; risk analysis; networking, coaching and mentoring and how to write a winning business plan amongst others.

Speaking at the event, the legal and Corporate Affairs Director for AB in BEV for business unit in Nigeria and Ghana, Otunba Michael Daramola, noted that the Kickstart initiative will help the Nigerian youths channel their bright business ideas into a sustainable venture and in turn reduce crime and unemployment rate.

He added that the initiative will also lead to more prosperous and healthy communities.

On his part, the Trainer’s team leader, Prof. Alex Ikeme, hailed the Intafact Hero’s Foundation Kickstart Programme as a sustainable initiative given the long term scheme put in place for establishing and growing the businesses of the participating entrepreneurs.

In his words, “The training programme was put together so as to provide the young entrepreneurs with the needed skills which will help them to manage their businesses and making it profitable.”

One of the participants, Raymond Anyasi described the week long training as life changing saying that he was going away with practical business lessons.

Other participants also commended the organisers for developing the programme and urged them to expand the scope to a national programme so as to accommodate more enterprising youths in the country.

According to the organisers of the programme, evaluation will precede the training process under which the shortlisted applicants will write a proposal before the final interview will be conducted to select winners.

“From the pool of the interviewed, winners will emerge and shall be announced during the award ceremony scheduled to take place later in the year.

“Aside from the seed capital that winners will receive, they shall be mentored and monitored for 12 months,” Daramola stated.

Over 5,200 applications were received across the eight participating states while business proposals received include furniture making, welding/fabrication, agriculture, video/photography/media, fine and visual arts, event planning, transportation, education, waste management.

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