UNDP, Kwara Government Empower 30 Youth Innovators

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the Kwara State Government has empowered 30 youth innovators in entrepreneurship and skills to establish their businesses.

The programme, the Young Africa Innovates (YAI), Kwara State Innovation Showcase was themed: “Igniting Innovation-Youth Solutions for the Future”.

At the event, the UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms Elsie Attafuah, said the YAI programme was a partnership between the UNDP and the MasterCard Foundation aimed at catalysing youth led innovation to drive socioeconomic development.

Attafuah who was represented by the incubation specialist on YAI programme, Mrs Catherine Ibrahim, explained that the programme focuses on identifying, incubating and scaling innovation of young people across diverse sectors.

She pointed out that innovation is not limited to technology but solving real problems that affect real people.

“The State Showcase is a celebration of young people building climate solutions, inclusive fintech tools, waste-to+wealth platforms and agro-logistics systems,” she said.

She explained that the programme aimed at empowering youths from marginalised and rural communities.

Attafuah pointed out that over 9,000 youths across seven states applied, adding that the number was streamlined to 30 innovators for each state amounting to 210 innovators.

“The 30 innovators have undergone four months of intensive mentorship training, capacity building and also seed funding for their innovation and businesses.

“The seed funding is meant to help them to scale their solutions. The essence of the YAI programme is to bring solutions that are peculiar to the community,” she said.

The Managing Director of the Ilorin Innovation Hub, Mr Temi Kolawole, maintained that Nigerian youths are very innovative and needed guidance to help them bring out their creativity.

“The UNDP has taken the innovation to rural areas, to compounds and wards level, where people have all been sensitised about the opportunity to showcase their innovation,” he said.

He further disclosed that the state government was collaborating with the UNDP to promote YAI programme, adding that people with disabilities were not left behind.

Kolawole observed that the future is innovation and entrepreneurship, saying the government cannot employ everyone, charging Nigerian youths to braze up and embrace innovations and entrepreneurship.

One of the innovators and the chief executive officer of Bazkkam Para-Sports Academy, Mrs. Bilkis Abdulkadir, commended the organisers, saying this has afforded people living with disabilities a platform to showcase their talents inspite of their disability.

The Chief Executive Officer of Harmony Natural Fruits Drinks, Mr AbdulSalam Hussein, described the programme as a wonderful experience that has helped to resfresh his idea.