SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria, has supported 4 outstanding youth with the sum one one million naira each in seed funding for economic development and stability in Oyo State.
The project which was carried out by Kaneng Rwang Pam (KRP) saw 15 corporative beneficiaries that participated in the youth entrepreneurship development program gave opportunities for the youth to meet investors who will support their businesses to grow.
Speaking at the event, the program’s manager of SOS Children’s village, Gabriel Adajie said the platform was established to give more opportunities to Nigerian Youth realize their dreams and be a major contributor to the economic development of Nigeria in the nearest future.
The three year program, according to SOS State program manager, kick-started in the year 2023, designed as a platform for visibility and aimed at equipping young people with relevant skills to manage and attract investments for their businesses.
Adajie urged the grant winners to sustain and grow their businesses, emphasizing the importance of resilience, innovation, and long-term impact in their entrepreneurial journeys.
The Executive Director of KRP Foundation, Kaneng Rwang-Pam, revealed that over 100 businesses received CAC registration during the program, with many scaling rapidly and directly impacting Oyo State’s GDP.
She said the program was funded by SOS Children’s Villages in Norway, emphasizing that investing in youth is essential because the future depends on them.
In his keynote address, Pastor Yemi Omotunde emphasized the potential of digital banking in Nigeria, stating, “With 63% of our population under the age of 25, the stage is set for rapid growth in digital finance. To succeed, think like Paystack, begin small, scale quickly, and strategically capture market share.”
Rev. Idowu Ogedengbe, Executive Assistant to the Governor of Oyo State, who described the initiative as both timely and inspiring, warned that “If we fail to act, we risk becoming a nation plagued by unemployment and crime.”
Reflecting on the event, Rev Ogedengbe said ” What I witnessed today is clear evidence that, with proper funding, these young people have the capacity to build a stronger, more prosperous economy for us all.”
Speaking at the event , CEO of Uniplan Integrated Services Ltd and a youth ambassador, Mr Kunle Awotiku said it was necessary everyone transiting from local impact to global relevance. Every individual carries inner credentials, unique potentials that make them essential and influential.”
The four lucky winners in a joint voice appreciated the organizer of the program “winning today is a dream come true. We’ve waited for three years, and now we’ll expand, empower others, and bridge the gap between amateurs and professionals in media,” . they said.
