About 300 hundred participants at the 2023 Gbolahan Olusegun Yishawu (GOY) youth entrepreneurship programme have said this year’s programme would reduce unemployment among youths in Eti-Osa 02 community.
The programme, which is its second edition, brings about youths between the ages of 20 and 35 years, who have a passion for innovation, business, and making a difference.
The Youth, who participated in the training on how to come up with business ideas and be employers of labour, applauded the initiative, saying it would help the productivity of youths.
One of the participants, John Akpan who applauded the training said it would reduce unemployment in the community.
“It will also help to make youths to be productive in what they do; the successful youths that get the start-up fund will also affect others by being employers of labour.
“Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu has been trying in the area of youth empowerment; we want him in the country”, he added.
Akpan stressed that there was a need to do risk management before giving the youths the fund, saying, some might disguise themselves as genuine in getting the money, yet without any business idea.
In her view, Kabiawu Lasbat ,who expressed optimism over the programme, said that it would encourage collaboration with other people to share business ideas.
“Some of the youth nowadays jump on a business and after a few months, they jump out and try something else, but when they collaborate, then it will encourage continuity; they will generate ideas and bring out something good, “ she said.
When asked why youths are not interested in doing long term business, she said, “some youths come with the motive of getting money without doing something meaningful with it.
“This is painful and saddening; there should be efforts to ensure that the money is channelled towards a business, and monitoring is necessary here.
“Once they know they are going to be checked, they will use the money properly, “ Lasbat said.
Adekunle Tolulope, another participant, who said he was into different businesses to make ends meet, lamented the attitude of youths towards doing business.
“I am into different businesses such as photography, shoe making, graphic and web designing to mention a few.
“I see handwork as something very important to me, though, I am a graduate but I do not capitalise on my certificate.
“Youths, nowadays, are looking for fast money and not ready to work; if it is just ordinary training, you will only see youths.
“They do not want to work; I have learnt something that will help me in the area of marketing one’s business in this programme.
“The GOY programme will reduce unemployment and make the successful youth an employer of labour.
The resource person, Abdulmumini Edidi, representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, explained the criteria to be part of the programme.
“The participants of the GOY youth entrepreneurship programme must be within the ages of 20 to 35 years; the team of three must have a business idea that is viable and must be available to pitch their business idea”, he said.
Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu is a member of Lagos State House of Assembly representing Eti-Osa 02.
