By Gift Chapi-Odekina, Abuja

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Activate Success International Foundation (ASIF), Love Idoko-Uloko, has called for deliberate investments in youth entrepreneurship and innovation as a strategy for closing the widening gap between talent and opportunity in Nigeria.

Speaking at the 2026 edition of the Youth Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Programme (YEEP) in Abuja on Thursday, Idoko-Uloko said Nigeria’s future depends on creating structured pathways that enable young people to transform their ideas and creativity into sustainable enterprises.

The annual programme, hosted by ASIF in partnership with Flutterwave and other stakeholders, was held under the theme, “Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Courage and Impact.”

According to the founder, the theme reflects the practical values required to build modern economies and drive national transformation.

“Entrepreneurship is the disciplined creation of value and opportunity where none previously existed. Innovation is the continuous commitment to relevance in a rapidly changing world. Courage is the willingness to act decisively in the presence of uncertainty, and impact is the only enduring measure of success,” she said.

Idoko-Uloko lamented that despite Nigeria’s abundance of talented and creative young people, many remain unable to translate their potential into productive ventures because of inadequate support systems, limited access to opportunities and weak entrepreneurial ecosystems.

“There exists a widening gap between talent and opportunity, between education and employability, and between aspiration and access. It is a gap that not only slows individual progress but also limits national development,” she stated.

Tracing the inspiration behind the establishment of Activate Success International Foundation over a decade ago, she disclosed that personal experiences, including the loss of her father at a critical stage of her life, shaped her conviction that adversity should not determine a person’s future.

“I came to understand early in life that circumstances can change without warning, but adversity does not have the final authority over a person’s destiny. If opportunity could not be found readily, then it must be deliberately created for others,” she said.

She explained that the foundation was established on the belief that no young Nigerian should have the limits of their future determined by the circumstances of their birth.

Over the past 11 years, she said, the foundation has evolved into a national platform for youth empowerment through entrepreneurship training, leadership development and enterprise support initiatives across the country.

According to her, ASIF’s interventions have reached millions of young Nigerians through programmes conducted at National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camps and other national platforms.

She revealed that more than 90 per cent of businesses supported by the foundation remain operational, while 85 per cent have been formally registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and over 70 per cent have recorded growth and expansion.

“These figures represent more than programme success; they represent lives transformed, livelihoods sustained and futures redefined,” she said.

Highlighting the achievements of YEEP 2025, Idoko-Uloko disclosed that over ₦50 million was disbursed to young entrepreneurs nationwide through grants and business support interventions.

She said 57 young entrepreneurs received financial grants to expand their businesses, while 30 fashion entrepreneurs were provided with industrial equipment through support from fashion entrepreneur, Seyi Vodi.

“These interventions were designed to be catalytic, providing not only resources but also confidence, structure and momentum for young people transitioning from ideas into viable enterprises,” she added.

The founder also recognised key partners that have sustained the programme over the years, including Flutterwave, NYSC, the Office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nestlé Nigeria, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Crown Luxury Properties and Vodi Tailors.

She particularly acknowledged Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, describing him as the highest donor to YEEP 2025 after providing grants to 37 young Nigerians across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Addressing participants, Idoko-Uloko urged young Nigerians to stop focusing solely on money and instead prioritise ideas, plans and solutions.

“Stop looking for money. Look for a plan. Look for an idea. Look for a strategy. Money is a reward for solving problems. Money flows in the direction of solutions,” she advised.

She encouraged the youths not to allow their backgrounds or present circumstances to define their future, urging them to take responsibility for their lives and contribute positively to society.

“Nigeria does not require a generation that waits for rescue; it requires a generation prepared to build. A generation willing to solve problems, create value and sustain impact over time,” she said.

Also speaking, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu commended ASIF for building one of Nigeria’s leading youth entrepreneurship platforms and reaffirmed the commitment of the National Assembly to creating policies that support enterprise development and youth empowerment.

Kalu, who shared his personal experience as a student entrepreneur, encouraged young Nigerians to embrace discipline, consistency and resilience in pursuing their goals.

“No policy, no matter how well designed, can substitute for personal initiative. Government can create frameworks, but only you can convert opportunity into achievement,” he said.

The Deputy Speaker also highlighted his sponsorship of the National Apprenticeship and Skills Development Framework Bill, which seeks to formalise and modernise Nigeria’s indigenous apprenticeship system as a pathway to skills acquisition and economic mobility.

European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, described Nigeria’s youthful population as one of its greatest assets, stressing that young people equipped with the right skills, financing and support systems can become a powerful force for economic transformation.

He reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting initiatives that create opportunities, foster innovation and promote inclusive economic growth.

Similarly, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, said Nigerian youths do not need rescue but adequate investment and resources to unlock their potential.

She noted that young people constitute about 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population and described entrepreneurship as a critical vehicle for achieving the country’s economic ambitions.

The minister particularly highlighted the growing role of women entrepreneurs, citing data showing that Nigerian women have one of the highest entrepreneurship rates globally.

According to her, the Federal Government is expanding programmes aimed at increasing women’s access to finance, markets, digital tools and investment opportunities across the country.

She also pledged personal support for selected entrepreneurs participating in the programme and promised continued collaboration between her ministry and ASIF.

Earlier, Flutterwave’s Business Development Executive, Olufunmilayo Olaniyi, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to empowering young entrepreneurs through digital payment infrastructure and financial technology solutions.

She said Flutterwave would provide participants with tools that enable them to receive payments globally, access new markets and scale their businesses beyond local boundaries.

The event also featured the recognition of individuals and organisations that have supported YEEP over the years, with organisers describing the awards as a celebration of measurable impact rather than position or status.