Dana Air partners AYEEN to boost youth empowerment

Dana Air has restated its commitment to youth development and entrepreneurship in Nigeria, with its recent partnership with Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs (A.Y.E) Reality TV Show.

Communications Manager of Dana Air, Kingsley Ezenwa, while signing the partnership agreement with Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs said the partnership with Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs Empowerment Nigeria (AYEEN) is to identify budding entrepreneurs with exceptional ideas and help showcase their potential to the world.

Ezenwa added: “As a responsible corporate organisation, we are committed to helping young entrepreneurs actualise their aspirations and we believe there is no better way to reduce crime rate and unemployment than supporting initiatives like this.’’

He noted that the airline has been in the forefront of youth development in Nigeria and only recently introduced special fares for members of the National Youth Service Corps and students as part of the airlines’ way of supporting the efforts of the government and their parents.

Also commenting on the partnership, the Regional Manager of Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs, Joy Michael, said the Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs and its 12 million members is where the world connects with Africa’s young and fast growing number of entrepreneurs.

According to her, “A.Y.E has successfully expanded to 20 African countries including the United States and England with world’s most successful businessmen and women as the trustee honourary members and executives to the organisation.

“A.Y.E in the last four years has identified, showcased and equipped budding and emerging entrepreneurs with relevant resources to either commence or scale up their businesses.’’

Michael added that Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs is happy that Dana Air is partnering with them and “we encourage other well-meaning brands to come on board, as this promises to be bigger and exciting.”

“The reality show is to influence start-ups, micro, small and medium enterprise to see the possibility of venturing into new business opportunities and scaling their existing businesses,’’ she said.