Applications Open for Transforming Nigerian Youths Program


The Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) announced a  partnership with the Mastercard Foundation to launch the Transforming Nigerian Youths program.  Recognizing that employment is a pathway out of poverty, the program seeks to create a network  of entrepreneurial and managerial change makers, particularly young people and women across  the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector, in Nigeria. In a bid to help reduce the  unemployment rate in the country, the free training program aims to boost employment creation  and sustainable livelihoods.

This program is open to all and is primarily focused on Lagos, Kano, and Kaduna states.  Through this program, 40,000 young people will be supported with the resources and learning  required to start, grow, and expand their businesses. The program will also provide support and  resources to young people who want to become employable in the creative and agricultural sectors.

In the last decade, Nigeria’s unemployment rate has continued to increase. According to the  National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the unemployment rate as at the second quarter of 2020 was  27.1 percent, indicating that about 21,764,614 (21.7 million) Nigerians remain unemployed, of  which 13.9 million are young people.

Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of the Pan-Atlantic University, a leading enterprise  development Centre, has in the last 17 years, provided support services to thousands of SMEs  through capacity building, advisory services, and partnerships with organizations that have an  interest in the development of the SME sector in Nigeria.

“We are excited to be part of the Transforming Nigerian Youths program to empower young  Nigerians, especially women. It will serve as a catalyst for entrepreneurial reorientation, job  creation, and sustainable livelihood,” says Mr. Peter Bamkole, Director, Enterprise Development  Centre, Pan-Atlantic University.

The intervention will scale EDC’s online learning capabilities to provide core business training to  an even broader grouping of SMEs in the agricultural and creative sectors of the economy. It will  also ensure that even the most marginalized, including young women in the north, can access this  world class training.

“Young Africa Works in Nigeria is committed to enabling opportunity for at least eight million  young Nigerians. Entrepreneurship will play a key role in achieving this goal. Fortunately, Nigeria  also has no shortage of young entrepreneurs. This initiative, which is part of the Mastercard

Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy, will prepare and enable young people to pursue their  aspirations and create productive livelihoods for themselves and others,” says Chidinma  Lawanson, Country Head, Nigeria at the Mastercard Foundation.

Applications are open for young Nigerians, especially women within the age range of 18-35.  To start an application, please visit https://reg.smetoolkit.ng/beTransformed, contact  09094561652, 09099241623, 08094468117, or Email: Youngafricaworks@pau.edu.ng

About the Mastercard Foundation 

The Mastercard Foundation works with visionary organizations to enable young people in Africa  and in Indigenous communities in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. It is one of the  largest, private foundations in the world with a mission to advance learning and promote financial  inclusion to create an inclusive and equitable world. The Foundation was created by Mastercard  in 2006 as an independent organization with its own Board of Directors and management.

For more information on the Foundation, please visit: www.mastercardfdn.org

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