Foundation, FCMB partner to mentor corps members

Activate Success International Foundation in conjunction with First City Monumental Bank (FCMB), has mentored National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members on practical steps to become successful entrepreneurs.

The move, the partners said were to help reduce the high rate of unemployment in the country.The partners under the aegis of “Activate Success Int’l Foundation Youth Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Programme,” deployed industry-based techniques to provide mentorship programme and training for corps members in Abuja, Imo and Benue states respectively.

Since passing knowledge and wisdom is the human thing to do, the programme facilitators expressed hope that the training will offer a well-defined career direction to the next generation and help them find their bearings in the business world.

Founder of the foundation, Love Idoko, said the mentorship programme tagged “Youth Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Programme (YEEP),” was led by a team of professionals and celebrities such Nollywood actor, Desmond Elliot, Chief Executive Officer of Vodi Tailors, Seyi Adekunle, Executive Director, YIAGA, Samson Itodo, among others.

She said the foundation purposely chose industry-based speakers who can pull from their own personal experiences and industry-wide view and offer career guidance that will enable aspiring entrepreneurs navigate the difficult business terrain.

“Aside providing access to wealth of knowledge and experience including opportunity to relate with the seasoned speakers, Activate Success International Activation and FCMB also gave N1m grant to the corps members. One of the speakers gave N1.2m grant to 12 corps members and another speaker gave a sum of N500, 000 as grant to 10 members making a sum of N2.7m in all. The last part of the event, which will come later in the year, would feature presentation of cheques to the beneficiaries.”

On what informed the programme, Idoko said, “I am very passionate about the youths and their future. I feel so concerned when they are out of school and have nothing to do. Most of them are business-minded but lack direction and funds to kick start their ideas. In so many cases, they are looking for who they can talk to for counseling and even mentorship. “So we hope that this mentoring and empowerment programme targeted for corps members in all the locations will make a lot of difference in their lives and help shape their future. We also appreciate FCMB and INTELIA for ensuring the event is a success.”