By Michael Akande 

The ARS Entrepreneurship Empowerment Foundation (ARS Foundation) has concluded arrangements to graduate over 100 youths and present business grants to selected beneficiaries at its 2026 Empowerment Event scheduled to hold in Lagos on Friday.

The event, billed for June 6, 2026, at the Multipurpose Hall of New Estate Baptist Church, Surulere, Lagos, will bring together community leaders, entrepreneurs, development partners and supporters of youth empowerment initiatives.

According to the foundation, the beneficiaries recently completed a 12-week vocational skills acquisition programme designed to equip young Nigerians with practical entrepreneurial and business development skills.

The foundation said the programme, which commenced in February 2026, provided training in catering, tailoring, resin craft production, leather works, makeup artistry, tie-and-dye production and other vocational trades aimed at promoting self-reliance among participants.

The foundation, in a statement jointly signed by its Board Chairman, Rev. Dr. Solomon Ajibade and its Secretary, Mrs. Ifeoluwa Akano,  noted that the empowerment programme was established to “ create opportunities for young people between the ages of 16 and 25, helping them develop sustainable means of livelihood through entrepreneurship and vocational education.

“It was founded in memory of Ajibade Rereloluwa Sharon, a young entrepreneur who died in 2023 at the age of 18, and seeks to sustain her passion for entrepreneurship by supporting aspiring young business owners.

“The empowerment event represents a celebration of resilience, creativity and the entrepreneurial spirit of young people. It is also an opportunity to encourage greater community support for youth-led enterprises and skills development initiatives,” they said.

Organisers further disclosed that the graduation ceremony would feature exhibitions of projects developed by participants during the training, presentations by beneficiaries, as well as goodwill messages from business leaders and community stakeholders, adding that selected participants would receive business grants to support the establishment or expansion of their enterprises.