Agency to empower 200 youths in Abuja

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AGENCY TO EMPOWER 200 YOUTHS IN ABUJA AS part of moves to curb youth restiveness and reduce the unemployment rates in the country, a non governmental organisation (NGO), Abuja Enterprise Agency, is championing the entrepreneurial spirit by celebrating innovative and winning business ideas with its seconnd Abuja Business Plan Competition Grand Finale Schedule for October 2010. The event, “Abuja Business Plan Competition”, the first of its kind for small businesses in Abuja was launched in January, 2007, specifically designed to crystallise participants thinking into actualisation, encourage proper business plan writing, promote healthy competition amongst entrepreneurs, initiate an arena to enable large businesses support upcoming entrepreneurs, and build network of resources for mentorship, team creation, education and venture financing. Sixty five (65) people participated in the 1st Abuja Business Plan Competition and 10 people made it to the finals, the winner Mrs Saidat Shonoki went home with N1, 000,000 cash. The 1st runner up and 2nd runner up went away with N500, 000 and N300, 000 respectively and other consolation prizes were won. Shonoki was able to deposit the funds for a piece of land to start her fish feeds industry. According to AEA, it is believed that the development of the real sector will only be realized by stimulating the populace towards venturing into businesses, as it is still our belief that this objective will only be achieved by leveraging on the competitiveness and the latent entrepreneurial spirit of our people through business plan competitions. “Our experience as an Enterprise Agency has shown that the inadequacy of business planning has been an albatross to many entrepreneurs with sound ideas. This has even caused them to be less attractive to funding”, it stated. Furthermore, AEA explained that the 2nd Abuja Business Plan Competition is intended to sustain the gains of the Maiden Edition which was indeed very successful, adding that this one is designed to provide support to at least 200 start up businesses for youths between the ages of 18 and 35. The programme would run for four months, commencing in July to October 2010. All participants will be entitled to mentoring, business plan writing training and business awareness training for free. Sale of application forms started on the 10th June and will close on 24th July 2010. Training of participants on business plan writing will commence after the shortlisting of successful finalists is completed, which will be followed by the grand finale. For more information visit our website on www.abujabizplan.com