EnterpriseNGR’s YOE Equips Youth To Transform Nigeria’s Workforce, Services Sector

EnterpriseNGR, Nigeria’s foremost advocate for the Financial and Professional Services (FPS) sector has marked another milestone with the graduation of Cohorts IV and V of its flagship ‘Youth of Enterprise’ (YOE) Internship Initiative.

The graduation ceremony, held on Thursday, September 25, 2025, carried the theme “Game Changers at Work: Innovate, Disrupt, Lead.” It spotlighted the organisation’s mission to tackle Nigeria’s unemployment and underemployment challenge by equipping young people with globally relevant skills, workplace readiness, and professional competence.

Since its inception in 2022, the YOE programme has trained and empowered more than 2,300 young Nigerians, making it one of the country’s most impactful platforms for workforce development.

Speaking at the event, CEO of EnterpriseNGR, Obi Ibekwe, reaffirmed the organisation’s belief in the power of people as Nigeria’s greatest resource.

“Through YOE, we are investing in the future of our nation by empowering young Nigerians with the skills, confidence, and resilience to lead in a rapidly changing world. Cohorts IV and V represent the innovation and tenacity that will drive our economy forward,” she said.

Head of Programmes, EnterpriseNGR, Joy Abara, highlighted the transformative nature of the initiative.

“The Youth of Enterprise Internship Programme is more than training; it is a platform that connects ambition with opportunity. Today’s graduates are leaving with not just knowledge but the mindset to innovate, disrupt, and lead. Their journeys inspire us to keep scaling the programme’s reach and impact,” she stated.

Delivering the keynote address, Co-Founder/Executive Director of MindtheGapNG, Tayo Olosunde, urged the graduates to embrace their role as game changers.

“The future of work belongs to those who can reimagine possibilities and create solutions where others see barriers. Your responsibility is not only to participate in the workforce but to shape it, innovate with courage, disrupt with purpose, and lead with integrity.”

The event also featured glowing testimonials from YOE employer partners, who praised the professionalism, creativity, and workplace readiness displayed by the interns. Interns themselves shared stories of transformation, describing how the programme reshaped their skills, mindset, and career outlook.

As part of the celebration, top-performing groups from Cohorts IV and V were recognised for innovative solutions to real-life community challenges. The recognition underscored YOE’s emphasis on excellence, teamwork, and leadership in practice.

Graduates from the latest cohorts interned with some of Nigeria’s most respected organisations, including Access Bank, CSCS, Chapel Hill Denham, First Ally, Coronation, Investment One Plc, Custodian, PwC Nigeria, Polaris Bank, SaroAfrica International Limited, Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, and FBNQuest. These industry partnerships, EnterpriseNGR noted, remain a driving force behind the success of the initiative.

Moderated by Head of Corporate Communications and Branding at EnterpriseNGR, Iyinoluwa Adunade, the event drew notable stakeholders who lauded the initiative’s role in bridging Nigeria’s widening skills gap.

She said the ceremony ultimately celebrated not just the achievements of Cohorts IV and V but also the broader vision of EnterpriseNGR’s Youth of Enterprise programme, to create a pipeline of skilled, resilient, and innovative young Nigerians who will transform the country’s workforce and shape the future of its professional services sector.