Building Entrepreneurs Today”, a programme sponsored by Diamond Bank in partnership with the Enterprise Development Service (EDS) of Lagos Business School, the Pan – African University, to train and support the development of entrepreneurship in the country has entered phase two.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Charles Udoh, Head Corporate Communications, said that in the second phase, EDS experts will work on the selected 15 entrepreneurs’ business models, to enable them increase their revenue stream, profitability and job creation.

These experts, he said, will sit with the participants for the next six months to provide the participants with unlimited business advisory services and help them to address various issues on a case by case basis with a view to providing them with solutions to specific challenges they might face in their businesses.

Udoh said the bank is implementing a BET which is a business education project in partnership with the EDS, as an intervention mechanism aimed at encouraging entrepreneurs to seek knowledge and best practices across the globe.

“Application for the programme was opened to the general public, in which 50 entrepreneurs from the numerous applicants were selected to undergo a robust 90- day intensive Entrepreneurship Management Training.

Out of the 50 trained entrepreneurs, 15 top breed entrepreneurs have been selected for Business Development Support. Five outstanding applicants or entrepreneurs will qualify for the Next Level Award, which is the sum of N3 million each as a capital boost in support of their respective businesses,” he said.

Udoh said EDS was responsible for the selection process of 50 entrepreneurs that participated in the three months Capacity Building Programme at the EDS, adding that the 50 participants selected enjoyed full benefits of EDS Business Network, which includes EDS networking meeting, business advisory and counseling sessions.

“Like we said at the flag off ceremony last year, from the 50 participants that just concluded their trainings, 15 have been selected as top breed students and they will be further engaged in an Intensive Business Development Support Service for another six months”.