COVID-19: NGO engages FCT youth in entrepreneurship

By Stanley Onyekwere

A Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Victoria Olatunde Foundation, in collaboration with Vientriel School of Entrepreneurs, has commenced a two-month training programme on entrepreneurship for youths in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), using online virtual and physical classes.
Speaking during the flag-off of the empowerment programme in Abuja yesterday, founder of the organisation, Amb (Mrs.) Victoria Olatunde-Young, explained that the two months training programme, which started in June, this year, would be rounded up this July.
She added that the gesture was meant to complement the efforts of government, especially in the wake of the dreaded Coronavirus otherwise known as COVID-19.
Olatunde-Young explained that the training would go a long way to reducing the level of poverty and unemployment in the country, adding that youths do not have to wait for huge amount of money before starting up an enterprise.
“The Foundation has provided facilitators to handle trainings such as urban gardening, dressmaking, Spa & Beauty, voice over artistry, catering, digital marketing, fashion illustration, and much more to the underprivileged youths and women in this BOOTCAMP 2020,is completely free of charge.
“At the end of the training, the best participants will be appreciated, rewarded and empowered with a start small seed grant and start up equipment to get started in their various areas of interest.
“The participants will be followed up and mentored free-of-charge to ensure they use the opportunity wisely and limit their mistakes and challenges,” she explained.
According to her, after the training participants would be able to fit into scheme of things in the country, even as she urges African youths to stop wasting their lives waiting to get jobs and big capital funding, but to embrace small beginnings, which would grow into bigger ventures.
She equally opined that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the economic situation of Nigeria and the world at large, as a lot of businesses have been paralysed and some completely shut down, while many have lost their jobs, even as some have their salaries slashed, due to the effect of the pandemic on businesses.