YouWin: 6000 Applicants Selected From 24,000. Winners To Access Funds Within 72 Days

Over 500 applications were received from Nigerians in the
Diaspora among the 24,000 who applied to participate in
the Federal Government youth entrepreneurship programme,
YOUWIN.
Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of
Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala disclosed this at an
agreement signing ceremony between the Federal Ministry of
Finance, Youth Development and ICT and participating banks,
in Abuja, on Wednesday.
The huge interest shown by the applicants at home and
abroad, the Minister said, was a vote of confidence on the
programme by Nigerian youths.
YOUWIN was launched in October last year by President
Goodluck Jonathan to provide jobs for 80,000 and
100,000 unemployed youths.
The jobs will be created through businesses created by the
3,600 youths with brilliant business ideas who will be
identified through YOUWIN and directly supported to realize
their entrepreneurial ideas over the next three years.
At the signing ceremony were representatives of the
6,000 applicants selected on merit from the 24,000
applications received. The eventual winners will receive
between one million to ten million naira, training, support for
equity in their business, introduction to banks for additional
credit and mentoring.
The minister thanked the participating banks, development
partners, including the World Bank and DFID as well as
SMEDAN, Bank of Industry and some private sector
organisations, for their financial and other support for
YOUWIN.
Minister of State for Finance, Dr Yerima Ngama urged
participants in the programme to make the best use of the
opportunity in order to encourage others while urging the
sponsors not to waiver in their support.
Representative of the participating banks, Mr Aigboje Aig-
Imoukhuede, MD of Access Bank throwing more light into
banks’ equity contribution, said participants can access their
funds within 72 hours of qualification and at zero charges
.