By Chinelo Obogo
Prominent Nigerians, including the Etsu Nupe, Yahaya Abubakar, former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Maurice Iwu, Senator Emmanuel Ebok-Essien, and rights activist, Kennedy Iyere, gathered in Abuja to unveil the Fund-Yes Entrepreneurship Enhancement Fund (FeeFund).
The initiative, launched by the grassroots cooperative society Fund-Yes aims to foster economic self-emancipation, poverty alleviation, and wealth-building among Nigerian youth and women.
Fund-Yes is dedicated to creating a national cooperative business community where Nigerian entrepreneurs can connect with local and international investors. The goal is to generate income, build wealth, and empower families, contributing significantly to the Nigerian economy.
In their addresses, the speakers lauded the initiative as a crucial step towards addressing Nigeria’s economic challenges. They highlighted the urgent need to combat poverty, hunger and insecurity through job creation and entrepreneurship. They emphasised the importance of partnerships between wealthy Nigerians, private sector organisations and all levels of government to support FeeFund’s objectives.
Iyere, founder of Fund-Yes explained that FeeFund was established to drive self-employment and entrepreneurship among youth and women. He stressed that many unemployed Nigerian youths are intelligent and skilled but lack access to necessary business financing. FeeFund aims to provide this financial support and enterprise development assistance, enabling them to start and grow their own businesses.
Iyere warned of the dangers of rising youth unemployment, describing it as a “ticking time bomb” that could lead to social unrest if not addressed. He urged for immediate action to prevent a potential crisis.
The “FeeFund Global Donation Campaign” is set to begin on June 7, 2024. This campaign will involve public figures, celebrities, business leaders, and philanthropists working together to raise funds.
Iyere called on wealthy Nigerians, foreign philanthropists, and the government to generously support this initiative to foster economic empowerment and development in Nigeria.