In a significant step towards promoting youth entrepreneurship in Nigeria, the President of the Nigeria Entrepreneurship Youth Initiative (NEYI), Mr. Adefisoye Adeshola, also known as Mr. Diligent, and his team were invited by the Honorable Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Oyo State, Hon. Wasilat Adegoke Adefemi. The commissioner, during the meeting, expressed her pleasure in receiving the NEYI delegation, acknowledging the impact NEYI has made on youth entrepreneurship development across the country.
Having conducted her research on NEYI, Hon. Wasilat Adegoke Adefemi commended the organization’s efforts, particularly in empowering young entrepreneurs. She highlighted her enthusiasm for future collaboration between the Oyo State Ministry of Youth and Sports and NEYI, noting that the ministry looks forward to working together to provide opportunities for young entrepreneurs in Oyo State.
One of the key highlights of the meeting was the upcoming trade fair, scheduled for October 1, 2024, which is powered by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The commissioner invited NEYI to mobilize young entrepreneurs from their database to showcase their vocational and entrepreneurial work at the event. This platform will offer young talents the opportunity to exhibit their creativity and innovations.
In addition, Hon. Adefemi discussed the upcoming marathon event on November 2, 2024. She emphasized the ministry’s desire to position vocational entrepreneurs across the state, providing them with opportunities to present their crafts during the event. She welcomed NEYI’s expertise and input in ensuring a successful and impactful initiative.
Hon. Commissioner Youth and Sport (Hon. Wasilat Adegoke) and President Nigeria Entrepreneurship Youth Initiative – N.E.Y.I (Mr. Diligent)
Mr. Diligent expressed deep appreciation for the commissioner’s forward-thinking approach, commending her for recognizing the importance of youth entrepreneurship. During the meeting, he provided a detailed presentation on NEYI’s current focus, which includes Digital Entrepreneurship, Vocational Skills, and Agropreneurship. Some of NEYI’s well-crafted vocational products were showcased to the commissioner, who was impressed with the organization’s work and expressed her interest in seeing these tools deployed to train more youths in the state.
A notable part of the discussion revolved around NEYI’s innovative “AgroTech Campus Village” project, which aims to establish a thriving apple production hub—referred to as the Apple Campus Village. NEYI’s partnership with Wabungu Apple in Kenya was highlighted, showcasing the organization’s commitment to creating job opportunities in agropreneurship for Nigerian youths.
In his remarks, Mr. Ogunbiyi Ahmed, CEO of Success Career and a key team member of NEYI, contributed by stressing the need for young entrepreneurs to receive support in business management, business proposals, and feasibility studies. He explained how these critical skills help entrepreneurs prepare for grant opportunities and business loans, positioning them for long-term success. NEYI continues to prioritize these areas in its capacity-building programs for young entrepreneurs.
Daniel Azeez, the Head of the Technical Team at NEYI, concluded the meeting by summarizing the ministry’s plans for the upcoming events and appreciating the partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports. He highlighted the expectation of attracting over 1,000 young entrepreneurs to the trade fair, providing them with the unique opportunity to register as vendors free of charge.
As NEYI continues its mission to empower and equip Nigerian youths for the future, this partnership with the Oyo State Ministry of Youth and Sports marks a pivotal moment in advancing youth entrepreneurship in the region. Together, they look forward to delivering impactful programs that will provide young entrepreneurs with the platform and resources they need to succeed.
Photo credit : Head of Media N.E.Y.I (Moshood Hammed)
