YEA5: Fidelity Bank, Gazelle boost over 200 Youth entrepreneurs in Kano State
Leading SME supporter in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc, in partnership with Gazelle Academy and Bayero University Kano has changed the fortunes of over 200 youth entrepreneurs with tailored and instant empowerment to start off their businesses in Kano.
The scheme, christened ‘Fidelity Youth Empowerment Academy stream 5’ (YEA 5), trained and powered participants who are mainly undergraduates with requisite skills, know-how, and capabilities needed to start businesses even whilst in school.
Training during the week-long programme cut across various skill areas including, Fashion Designing, Makeover, Henna Design, New Media Marketing, Baby Bag Making, Bead Making, etc.
Business Hilights gathered that the empowerment programme, which is part of Fidelity Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, is primarily targeted at creating a new breed of entrepreneurs amongst Nigeria’s boisterous youth population.
In his remarks at this year’s edition, which was the fifth, the bank’s Deputy Managing Director, Mohammed Balarabe said that the skills acquisition programme seeks primarily to offer undergraduates of tertiary institutions with vocational skills and enterprise training needed to become thriving business owners.
He averred that “Since its inception, four editions have held successfully at institutions in Enugu, Birnin Kebbi, Anambra and Rivers states with over 2,000 participants. In essence, we have succeeded in making entrepreneurs out of students who will be financially responsible and independent.”
Also speaking, Director, Public Affairs at BUK, Malam Ahmed Shehu, commended Fidelity Bank for the initiative and called on other corporate organisations to emulate the bank in giving back to the society through laudable youth empowerment programmes like YEA5.
Earlier in her keynote address, Founder, Gazelle Academy, Muna Onuzo, said “We give our students the ability to stand and build their business. We start by teaching them the skills of the trade and then we empower their mind so that the inner disabilities won’t limit them from actualising their true potential. We also teach students how to run a business that is clean, sustainable and viable.”
