By Lucy Ogalue
Ms Paola Pace, Chief of Mission for the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Nigeria, says youth entrepreneurship is critical in driving Nigeria’s economic renaissance.
Pace, represented by Ms Elizabeth Poage, the National Officer for Labour Migration and Diaspora, said this at the ongoing 8th Annual Emerging Entrepreneurs Summit in Abuja on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit was organised by the Eminent Emerging Entrepreneurs Foundation and Thelema Lion Foundation in partnership with IOM).
The theme of the two days event is; ” Invest in Refining of Raw Materials and Talents: Panacea for Decent Job Creation”.
Pace decried the vast untapped potential of Nigeria’s youth population, which she said constituted nearly 70 per cent of the country’s total population.
She acknowledged the global employment crisis, with more than 64 million young people unemployed worldwide, calling for urgent solutions.
The chief of mission said this was particularly crucial within Nigeria, where high unemployment rates and social inequality had led many youths to seek opportunities abroad.
She noted that youth entrepreneurship could transform Nigeria’s workforce from job seekers to job creators, fostering innovation and economic growth.
“The future of Nigeria lies in its youth, thus the need for investment in refining raw materials and talents to create sustainable jobs,’’ she said.
Pace emphasised the importance of a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurship, including better access to training, mentorship, funding, and career guidance.
According to her, key sectors such as agriculture, technology, and renewable energy are key areas that will engender innovation and job creation.
She urged stakeholders to remove barriers for young entrepreneurs and develop youth-friendly financial services to unlock their potential.
Pace reaffirmed IOM’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s youth through partnerships aimed at enhancing skills and employability, particularly in green jobs and sustainable industries.
She called for a collective effort to ensure “no one is left behind” in the drive for a more inclusive and prosperous future.
Earlier, Mr Eberechi Marcus, the Founder, Eminent Emerging Entrepreneurs Foundation and convener of the summit reiterated the importance of inclusion and training for small business owners.
“We are embarking on a project known as ‘Kash for job creation’ which aims to empower 10 marginalised beneficiaries comprising of five persons living with disabilities and five vulnerable women.
“This will be done through comprehensive training, entrepreneurship development and establishment of sustainable fishery and poultry value chains.
“The objective is to empower the beneficiaries by providing decent jobs and stable income for them, promote socio-economic equality and thrive the poultry and fishery sectors,’’ he said.
On sustainability, Marcus said there would be continuous training and mentorship for the beneficiaries, and they would be linked with local markets and suppliers among other things.
NAN reports that the summit served as a platform for young entrepreneurs to explore solutions to the country’s socio-economic challenges, with the aim of building a resilient and self-sustaining economy.
The high point of the event was the presentation of awards to well deserving entrepreneurs and stakeholders among other things.
NAN