>

>

>

>

EDC Programmes

Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDT)

Executive Entrepreneurship Development Training (EEDT)

Pre-retirement Entrepreneurship Development Training (PRED)

HP Graduate Entrepreneurship Training through Information Technology (HP GET-IT)

At least three former trainees of the Entrepreneurship Development Centre have made the provisional shortlist of the Federal Government initiative, Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YouWiN).

YouWiN is a collaboration of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Communication Technology, and the Ministry of Youth Development that organises an annual Business Plan Competition (BPC) for aspiring young entrepreneurs in Nigeria, in line with the Federal Government’s drive to create more jobs for Nigerians.

Over 24,000 young Nigerian entrepreneurs entered for the competition when it was launched late last year. About 500 entries were received from Nigerians in the Diaspora, giving it an international appeal.

Despite the competiveness of the initiative, five ex-trainees of the EDC made it through to the second round of screening of which three made the final shortlist as announced by organisers on Monday, March 19, 2012.

The three successful entrepreneurs are Agunbiade Ayodeji Emmanuel, Olajide Samuel Taiwo, and Olawande Tope, who will all be awarded grants by the Federal Government for their businesses.

In a letter of appreciation to the Executive Director of the Africa Leadership Forum (ALF), Mr Ayodele Aderinwale, MFR, the entrepreneurs attributed their success to the comprehensive business training they received at the Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDC) Lagos, which is managed for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by the ALF.

Below is the full text of the letter:

I write also on behalf of my other colleagues who took part in the Three Months Entrepreneurship Development Training organised by Ekiti State Government and facilitated by your AFRICAN LEADERSHIP FORUM at Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State in 2009.

Although, the funding (as promised by the government) was lopsided, yet you had prepared us to face any business challenge and overcome it courtesy of the training you gave us. The training was worth a four-year course in the university. It was very detailed. We never experienced such before. Therefore, we (few of us) went boldly to apply for the on-going National highly competitive YouWiN Programme which started in December, 2011.

Five of us made the first round. Today, three of us are provisionally shortlisted for funding by the Federal government (GRANT). kudos to you people.

PLEASE, SPECIAL THANKS MUST BE GIVEN TO MR. TAYO OYEWOLE who despite the yuletide holiday (I mean while ALF was on break) took it upon himself to review our Business Plans ( even at his own expense in a public CYBERCAFE) before we could finally submit to YouWiN. Thank you sir.

As it is, we are proudly associated with you sir(s).

Our names are: (The YouWiN lucky winners):

    1. AGUNBIADE AYODEJI EMMANUEL
    2. OLAJIDE SAMUEL TAIWO
    3. OLAWANDE TOPE O.

I am just short of words here... but, I know that I shall still come back to give more thanks to you people while I acknowledge that there is GOD and I give the praise and all I am.

Thanks.

I am AGUNBIADE AYODEJI EMMANUEL
        (AQUAFAYA VENTURES)