A total of 2,659 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) across Nigeria, have been pre-qualified for the final phase of the NNPC Foundation Business Pitching Exercise that is scheduled to hold from July 2nd to 10th, 2024.
The exercise, according to a statement by the spokesperson of the NNPC Limited, Olufemi Soneye, is an integral part of the NNPC Foundation’s Financial Literacy Program for Nigerian youths that witnessed the engagement of over 284,000 corps members, who underwent rigorous training and assessments.
Soneye quoted the Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe as saying that the selection criteria will focus on the feasibility and sustainability of the business idea, market relevance, competitive edge and innovation, scalability, potential impact on the community and the entrepreneurial spirit of the corps members.
“We have identified these 2,659 individuals who are ready to present their business ideas to a distinguished panel of assessors.”
Emmanuella Arukwe said that the Financial Literacy Program is aligned with the NNPC Foundation’s mission of equipping young Nigerian graduates with necessary skills for personal and professional development.
“By educating corps members on financial management and entrepreneurship, the program aims to empower them to become economically self-sufficient and to contribute positively to society.”
Soneye said that during the pitching exercise, projects that standout will receive startup packs, business advisory services and opportunities to scale their ventures.
This is even as the management of NNPC Foundation has facilitated a 50 percent reduction in the registration fee for corps members’ businesses with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
He said that the NNPC Foundation is the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of NNPC Limited.
According to him, its initiatives focus on enhancing Nigeria’s socio-economic development through targeted interventions in education, health, the environment, access to energy and youth empowerment to foster economic empowerment, promote entrepreneurship, and support sustainable development across the nation.
