Prominent Nigerians, including Etsu Nupe Alhaji (Dr) Yahaya Abubakar; former INEC chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu; Senator Emmanuel Ebok-Essien, and Comrade Kennedy Iyere, gathered at the Transcorp Hilton 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.
The launch event was a high-profile dinner attended by notable figures, including the Etsu Nupe, Prof. Iwu, Senator Ebok-Essien, Hajiya Lami Adamu of the National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), and Dr. Pogu Bitrus of the Middle Belt Forum, among others. In their addresses, the dignitaries lauded the initiative as a crucial step towards addressing Nigeria’s economic challenges.
The speakers highlighted the urgent need to combat poverty, hunger, and insecurity through job creation and entrepreneurship. They emphasized the importance of partnerships between wealthy Nigerians, private sector organizations, and all levels of government to support FeeFund’s objectives.
Comrade Kennedy 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.