Participants of the 2015 Budding Entrepreneurs Programme of the Young business Leaders of Nigeria were recently hosted by the United States consulate Office in Lagos where they were received by the Public Affairs Officer, Dehab Ghebreab.

Ghebreab expressed her joy in seeing young people strive so hard to make a living for themselves and also to better the society at large. She went further by saying, “It is nice to see young people with viable business plans and that is what the society needs, more entrepreneurs to create a change,”

“I am excited to see the founder of the organisation who is also a member of the Mandela Washington Fellowship put into use the learning she has acquired from the training. The determination to make a change is all that is ever needed and together we can make a change. I therefore urge you all to keep to your promises of employing five persons before December 2016 and also to take advantage of the great and rare opportunity.”

These twenty budding entrepreneurs with viable business plans were selected from over 3,200 applications received from all parts of Nigeria. They are currently accommodated in Lagos and are undergoing intensive entrepreneurship training with free Laptops and other I.T equipment provided.

At the end of the program, each participant would have access to special credit facilities at low interest rates to grow their businesses and in return, they are expected to employ a minimum of five persons by December 2016.

The program which started on the 4th of October would be rounded off with an award event scheduled for the 13th of November, 2015 at the Oriental Hotels.

This is put together to recognize and reward outstanding participants who have been able to distinguish themselves in the course of the programme.

Other places the participants have visited include; Insight communications, Nestle Nigeria, Lagos state Waste Management Agency, Digital Jewels, IOS furniture, Beloxxi Nigeria amongst others.

The young Business Leaders of Nigeria is non-governmental organization committed to reducing unemployment in Nigeria by at least 25% in the year 2020. This will be achieved by the implementation of Capacity building programs with a focused attempt at getting a large mass of young people off the side-lines by developing their skill, empowering them through seed funds, provide relevant employment opportunities and networking opportunities to young people with distinguished mentors who will guide them in the entrepreneurship journey.