About 2,000 National Youth Service Corps members in Lagos State have undergone entrepreneurship and financial literacy training designed to equip them with practical business skills and help address youth unemployment.
The training was organised under the NextGen Entrepreneurs Programme by WordenHCD in partnership with Access Bank Plc, the Lagos Forward Network and the Lagos State Wealth Creation Office.
The initiative is designed to prepare young graduates for self employment through enterprise development training, mentorship and access to business support opportunities.
Surulere Local Government Area served as the pilot location for the programme, which brought together aspiring entrepreneurs, young business owners and innovative graduates drawn from selected Community Development Service groups across the state.
During the training, participants were exposed to key areas including entrepreneurship, financial literacy, business model development, budgeting, digital business tools, enterprise registration and investment readiness.
They also had the opportunity to learn from experienced entrepreneurs, financial professionals and business development experts who provided practical guidance and mentorship.
Speaking at the programme, the Chief Operating Officer of WordenHCD, Ifreke Brendan, described entrepreneurship as an important pathway to tackling youth unemployment while promoting economic growth.
Brendan said the organisation was focused on helping young Nigerians develop practical skills that would enable them to establish businesses, create jobs and contribute to the wider economy.
He said young people needed more than academic qualifications to succeed in today’s economy, stressing the importance of confidence, practical knowledge, innovation and the ability to create value.
According to him, the NextGen Entrepreneurs Programme was established to help young innovators move beyond seeking employment and develop the capacity to become job creators.
Brendan also highlighted the importance of financial literacy, noting that poor financial management remains one of the challenges responsible for the failure of many startups.
He explained that a promising business idea alone was not enough to guarantee success, as entrepreneurs also needed financial discipline, resilience, innovation and a willingness to keep learning.
Participants were therefore introduced to practical approaches to business management, financial planning and the use of digital tools, alongside mentorship aimed at helping them build sustainable ventures.
Brendan commended Access Bank, the Lagos Forward Network and the Lagos State Wealth Creation Office for supporting the programme, describing the partnership as an example of how collaboration between different sectors can promote youth empowerment and inclusive economic growth.
The programme also featured a Business Pitch Competition, where participants presented their business ideas before a panel of judges.
Three entrepreneurs emerged as winners and received business grants of ₦200,000 each to support the development of their ventures. They were Quadri Taiye, Chief Executive Officer of Doorah Designs; Obiekwe Mary, Chief Executive Officer of Kiara Crunch; and Oswald Onimhawo, founder of Helpa.
The winners were selected based on the innovation, scalability and potential social impact of their ideas. The judges noted that the businesses showed promise in creating employment and contributing to economic activity within their communities.
Several participants described the training as valuable and practical, saying the combination of mentorship, networking, business education and the pitch competition had increased their confidence in pursuing entrepreneurship as a career option.
WordenHCD said it would continue to expand access to entrepreneurship education, financial literacy and enterprise development opportunities for young Nigerians through partnerships with government institutions, financial organisations and development groups.
