As part of deliberate efforts to reduce youth unemployment levels in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc, one of the country’s top finance institutions in partnership with Gazelle Academy and Federal Polytechnic, Oko Venture has just concluded an entrepreneurship training programme for 400 students in Anambra State.
Organised under the Fidelity Youth Empowerment Academy stream 3, the week-long training programme was aimed at equipping the students with skills and capabilities needed to take start businesses even whilst in school.
Some of the skill areas participants were trained on include: fashion, accessories, cocktail, tailoring, and makeup, shoe making, digital marketing.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the third edition of the Fidelity Youth Empowerment Academy (YEA) held in Oko, Anambra State, the Bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nnamdi Okonkwo noted that the initiative seeks to empower the Polytechnic community by creating thriving business owners amongst students.
This, he explained is in furtherance of the financial institution’s quest to not only tackle the nation’s unemployment challenges but improve the wellbeing of communities where it does business.
Okonkwo who was represented by the Regional Bank Head (RBH), Enugu-Anambra-Ebonyi Region, Leonard Ezugwu encouraged the participants who had successfully completed the programme aptly themed ‘Turning Your Passion Into Pay Cheque’ not to relent in their efforts to build highly successful businesses.
“I was impressed with your individual dedication and collective performance during training. Always motivate yourselves. You are indeed lucky to have been chosen as a participant. I therefore challenge you to go out there and make a success out of this for you twelves and please remember that the right attitude and a strong will to succeed will take you far” he added.
Speaking in the same vein, Muna Onuzo, Founder, Gazelle Academy, thanked the participants for their zeal and active participation as evidenced by the number of things ranging from sandals, clothing apparels, beadworks, cocktails that were made by the and on display for visitors who thronged the school to witness the closing ceremony.
Onuzo who noted that entrepreneurship remains the most viable solution to the current economic challenges, encouraged them to use the platform to gain financial freedom and self-reliance.“Go and make Fidelity Bank proud; go and make the Federal Polytechnic, Oko proud; go and make Gazzelle Academy proud, said Onuzor.
