About two hundred youths in Delta State have benefitted from a program tagged “Youth Skills Fest”, organized to empower potential and young entrepreneurs on how to grow their businesses.
The event, which has as its theme, ”Empowering Youth in Leadership, Business and Policy for Sustainable Development”, was put together by a non governmental organization, YALI Network Delta in collaboration with the United States Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria.
The participants who were taken through various presentations by resource persons on Leadership in Business; Financial Literacy; Civic Engagement and Social Impact ; Management and Engagement of Policies and Governance; Media and Personal Branding, commended the organizers and gave assurances that they would apply the skills acquired in their businesses.
Seasoned and experienced speakers including a World Bank Consultant and local government council Chairman in Enugu State, Greg Anyabudike ; the Founder of AutoEase Services Limited, Oby Okeke ; Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations , Delta Chapter, Godwin Osakwe ; Branch Manager at TAJBank, Roger Eraga ; a Tech Entrepreneur , Cynthia Orife .
Special Assistant to Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori on Youth Development, Ambassador Onyedikachi Odogwu urged the potential leaders and young entrepreneurs to leverage on digital technology, skills acquisition, relevant policies, collaboration, and branding to make positive impacts and be successful in life and businesses.
A young business man in Asaba, Francis Emodi during an interview with Radio Nigeria, highlighted inadequate funding and insecurity as major challenges facing young entrepreneurs.
He asserted that industrious young entrepreneurs in Nigeria can make progress in business despite emerging challenges.
Another young entrepreneur, Kinichachi Favour who described the Youth Skills Fest as a mind opening one, said she had been equipped with innovative ideas and skills to do well in business.
At the event, Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by his Special Assistant on Youth Development, Ambassador Onyedikachi Odogwu said his administration’s policies were youth friendly with inclusion of many young persons in government as commissioners, senior special assistants and special assistants.
He encouraged young entrepreneurs to register their businesses with relevant government agencies to enable them to benefit from government interventions, and financial assistance from banks.
The convener and coordinator, YALI Network Delta, Mr Daniel Anazia said the the 2025 Youth Skills Fest 1.0, was designed to educate, empower and inspire the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs in Delta State and beyond.
Mr Anazia said the theme ”Empowering Youth in Leadership, Business, and Policy for Sustainable Growth”, reflects urgent need for the youths to prepare themselves, not just to survive, but to lead, build, and sustain ventures that transform families, communities, and nations.
”The Youth Skills Fest 2025 was born from the reality that many young people today are passionate but unequipped. They have ambition, but no access. They have vision, but lack the tools to build. This Fest is our response to that gap”
”The Nigeria we hope to see will not be built by accident, it will be built by young men and women who take personal responsibility for their growth and for the problems around them”, he stated.
While urging young people to start building a better future through skills, service, collaboration, and consistency instead of depending on others to survive, Mr Anazia thanked the U.S. Consulate in Lagos for continued support of the YALI Network across Nigeria.
”The partnership not only gives this event credibility. It is part of ongoing effort to strengthen public diplomacy by investing in people, ideas, and programs that foster lasting leadership and mutual understanding”, he added.
YALI an acronym for The Young African Leaders Initiative launched by the U.S. government in 2010, to empower Africa’s next generation of leaders through three key components: the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Regional Leadership Centers (RLCs), and the YALI Network.
The YALI Network offers free online courses, tools, and a platform for networking on leadership, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement, with over 700,000 members across Africa. In Nigeria, YALI Network Nigeria is one of the most vibrant country chapters, driving grassroots impact through community projects, leadership development, and advocacy. It provides a space for young Nigerians to learn, collaborate, and lead change in their communities while connecting with peers and global opportunities.
Source: Sam Erhunmwunsee
