In a major push to curb youth unemployment and foster self-reliance among young graduates, the NextGen Entrepreneurs Programme has trained no fewer than 2,000 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members across Lagos State in core business development and financial literacy. Organized by WordenHCD in strategic partnership with Access Bank Plc, the Lagos Forward Network, and the Lagos State Wealth Creation Office, the initiative kicked off its pilot phase in the Surulere Local Government Area, bringing together ambitious corps members, early-stage entrepreneurs, and innovative young minds from various Community Development Service (CDS) groups. Over the course of the training, participants underwent intensive hands-on modules covering business model development, budgeting, digital enterprise tools, registration procedures, and investment readiness, while receiving direct guidance and mentorship from seasoned business founders, financial experts, and enterprise development professionals.
Highlighting the long-term vision of the initiative, Ifreke Brendan, Chief Operating Officer of WordenHCD, emphasized that the future of Nigeria's economy relies on equipping young people with practical skills to solve problems, build businesses, and generate employment rather than remaining job seekers. He stressed that while a great business idea is a strong starting point, long-term startup survival requires sound financial discipline, resilience, and continuous learning.
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The program culminated in a competitive Business Pitch Competition, where standout participants presented their ventures before a panel of industry judges. Selected for their innovation, business scalability, and potential social impact, three top entrepreneurs Quadri Taiye (CEO of Doorah Designs), Obiekwe Mary (CEO of Kiara Crunch), and Oswald Onimhawo (Founder of Helpa) were each awarded a ₦200,000 grant to fund their business growth. Participants described the experience as transformational, noting that the combination of mentorship, practical financial tools, and seed funding significantly boosted their confidence to pursue full-time enterprise, while WordenHCD reaffirmed its commitment to expanding the program to reach even more young Nigerians through ongoing public and private sector partnerships.
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