By Vincent Ujumadu

YOUTHS in the South East Geo-political zone are to benefit from the entrepreneurship programme established by Intarfact Beverages Limited based in Onitsha, Anambra State.

Obiano 

The programme is targeted at youths between the ages of 18 and 35 years, who are expected to submit business plans and who already have their own companies. Essentially, the beneficiaries are to receive intensive training business fundamental expert assistance, business coaching and mentoring, as well as seed capital to help grow the business.

At the launch of the programme in Onitsha, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, who is the Chairman of Board of Trustees of SABMiller Hero’s Foundation, said it was aimed at creating and developing a local culture of business entrepreneurship among young people in the South East by encouraging and promoting business skills, managerial awareness and material support.

The monarch said the programme would bring refreshment to people, explaining that it is part of its social corporate investment initiative of the company towards poverty alleviation and sustainable enterprise development in its areas of operation.

He said: “The end objective is to ensure that our youth in the South East with bright business ideas, have an opportunity to turn these ideas into reality, which will in turn reduce unemployment by engaging them meaningfully through an entrepreneurship programme that will encourage them to bring their dreams to life.

“We are not unaware that there are expectations from the communities around our areas of operations, particularly in Anambra State and that is why, as a major business venture in the South East, Intafact has to maintain an enduring relationship with people of the region.”

According to him, it is expected that the initiative will not only grow the local economy of the South East region, but will indeed, generate a paradigm shift in wealth creation as the multiplier effects will be quite impressive and far-reaching.

Anambra State commissioner for youth entrepreneurship and sports, Chief Tony Nnacheta, who launched the programme on behalf of Governor Willie Obiano, promised that the state government would partner with the company to realize its objectives.
Director of corporate affairs and strategy of SABMiller, Otunba Michael Daramola urged traditional rulers and government officials to help in disseminating information on the programme in their areas.