Source: Kanotimes
The Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has awarded grants of ₦250,000 each to eight young entrepreneurs to support the growth of their businesses. These recipients were chosen from 70 participants who presented their business ideas during the Youth Sustainable Enterprise Challenge, with the most exceptional proposals securing the grants.
Speaking at the closing ceremony and final pitch presentation on Thursday, CITAD’s Executive Director, Yunusa Ya’u, represented by Community Network Coordinator Adamu Hadeja, emphasized that the initiative aimed to equip participants with entrepreneurial and digital skills. The eight-week training program, supported by the British Council through the King’s Trust, was designed to encourage innovation and prepare young entrepreneurs for success.
Isa Garba, CITAD’s Senior Program Officer, explained that the training program covered various facets of entrepreneurship and concluded with a business pitch competition assessed by a panel of judges. The top eight participants received grants to either establish or expand their businesses.
Garba also disclosed that 74 participants completed the training, with plans for follow-up mentorship and monitoring to evaluate the impact of the grants. A previous iteration of the initiative had successfully trained 60 youths in Kano under the same project.
The grant recipients expressed their gratitude for the opportunity. Haruna Ibrahim committed to utilizing the funding to grow his business, while Khadijah Muhammad promised to apply the knowledge and support to advance her entrepreneurial journey.
This initiative highlights CITAD’s dedication to promoting youth-driven innovation and cultivating a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem in Nigeria.
