By Ezra Ukanwa

Grand Africa Initiative, GAIN, in collaboration with Africa Export-Import Bank, AFREXIMBANK, has trained young African Entrepreneurs from across Africa through its GAIN-AFREXIMBANK Masterclass on Entrepreneurship and Intra-Africa Trade

Grand Africa Initiative (GAIN ) is a Pan-African Non-governmental organization helping African young men and women, between 15 and 35 years, develop and harness their unique ideas, talents, and abilities for success in education, entrepreneurship, innovation, and employment.

In a statement made available to our correspondent in Abuja, the Executive Director of GAIN, Chinwe Okoli, explained that the empowerment initiative was part of the Africa Export-Import Bank’s effort to increase participation of African young entrepreneurs in cross-border trade and expand trading activity under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, AfCFTA.

She added that the initiative was geared towards training, empowering, and providing technical support to African young men and women by equipping them with digital, leadership, employability, and entrepreneurial skills for self-sustenance.

She said the program was designed to, among others, equip young African entrepreneurs who were selected from across Africa with skills to build and scale their businesses across borders; learn key insights that will help them identify opportunities in various African Markets, and expand their businesses

She said the program, which kicked off August 8th, 2022, received applications from 1,376 young African entrepreneurs from 29 African countries across the five regions in Africa out of which two hundred 200 were selected.

“The program kicked off on the August 8th, 2022 with a virtual opening ceremony which had the Executive Director Grand Africa Initiative-GAIN, Ms. Chinwe Okoli; the Senior Manager, AU/AFCFTA Relations and Trade Policy, African Export-Import Bank Mr Babajide Sodipo and the Keynote Speaker His Excellency Thami Mseleku, the High Commissioner of South Africa to Nigeria, selected participants and members of the public in attendance.

“It was a 3-month program that had intensive live masterclass facilitated by global experts and leaders in various aspects of business who brought to class experience and mastery. The participants learned from facilitators from Africa, America, and Europe who covered fifteen(15) broad topics, which was followed by mentorship and business advisory sessions with experienced mentors and experts in various business sectors”, she said.

A participant, CEO Unique shis Green Products Ltd, Nigeria, Amina Onawo Mohammed, said: “This program is top notch. It went beyond my imagination. I applied SWOT techniques to strategise my business which really helped out these 3 months.”

Another participant, CEO Rowdach Enterprise, Malawi, Robert Chikuse, said: “Before I joined this program, my ideas were not structured and I was blind to the possibilities out there and how I could benefit from ACFTA. This program has introduced the idea of networking and the importance of having a clearly defined strategy and branding.”