Junior Chamber International (JCI) is empowering young Nigerian business owners with $15,000 via its 2023 Creative Young Entrepreneur (CYE) programme.
Speaking yesterday in Lagos, the proramme’s chairperson, Tricia Inalu, explained that the project is an international competition to motivate, promote and inspire enterprising young leaders to create innovative businesses and jobs.
She said the contest affords young entrepreneurs the opportunity to showcase their running businesses, while offering participants access to insights and $15,000 cash prize.
Inalu noted that CYE challenges young entrepreneurs to critically and creatively think by requiring them to provide in-depth business models, marketing positioning and strategic goals on how their ventures would begin to make profits and become sustainable.
The chairperson said irrespective of ranking, every participant is sure to benefit from the experience, get advice and feedback from experienced investors and exposure to JCI global entrepreneur masterclass.
She said to participate, enterprises must have been running for minimum of three months, while participants are required to provide a strong business plan, possess presentation skills and be able to articulate goals.
Stating that application is open on JCI website, Inalu sought partnership with private and public organisations to empower more young entrepreneurs.
Executive Vice President, JCI Southwest, Gafar Odubote, said with the nation’s unimpressive economy and slow Gross Domestic Product (GDP), there was need to focus on young entrepreneurs, who could develop businesses and creative ideas to close the gap.
He expressed belief that the CYE platform would enable young people explore and put their business ideas together to attract global investors.
Also, Executive Vice President, JCI South-South/Southeast, Oluwatosin Ligali, said the programmme would engage entrepreneurs in both rural and urban areas of the country, adding that there are businesses that have not been showcased to the world.
He said besides the incentives, there would be lots of training for these young people, just as he added that JCI is expecting over 100,000 participants nationwide.