Business
NGO Urges FG To Support Young Entrepreneurs
A non-governmental organisation, the Young CEO Initiative has urged the Federal Government to improve support to young entrepreneurs and create the enabling environment that would enable the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to grow sustainably.
The founder of the initiative, AigbeOmoregie, made the call at a media briefing in Lagos.
The Young CEO Initiative is a platform that provides startups access to mentorship, grants and networking opportunities.
Omoregie noted that the harsh economic situation in the country was making it difficult for many young entrepreneurs to survive in business, despite various interventions from the government and private investors.
He said that the organisation with over 30,000 memberships had lost some of its promising members due to inability to fund their businesses.
“Some of these entrepreneurs have shut down production; some have downsized, while some of them have succumbed to the lure of irregular migration, because their businesses are barely functioning.
“We find it difficult accessing credit facilities from the banks, which leaves us at the mercy of smaller financial homes, who give us facilities at a very ridiculous interest rates that eventually eliminate the purpose of growth,” he said.
Omoregie said that MSMEs with over 37 million players contribute about 54 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), adding that the sector which employed over 59 million Nigerians should not be allowed to collapse.
“We, therefore, appeal to government, as a matter of urgency, to come to our aid before the businesses of the youths who serve as role model collapses.
“This should be done by introducing programmes and initiatives where loans are easily accessible to entrepreneurs at low interest rates within the shortest period of time,” he said.
Omoregie urged finance institutions to simplify their loans and disbursement procedures toward reducing the untold stress being faced by young entrepreneurs who try to access their facilities.
Also, the Managing Director, Shoespeed, Abiodun Folawiyo, said that funding was the major challenge confronting many players in the sector.
Folawiyo said that he survived the 15 years of his company’s operation through soft loans from family and friends.
He urged the government to gear efforts toward improving the ease of doing business by spurring more economic activities and attracting more foreign investors.
In her remarks, the Managing Director of Redbutton, Chioma Ogbu, urged government to improve support to the creative industry.
Ogbu also urged the government to leverage upon the ingenious ideas of many young entrepreneurs in the industry to boost the nation’s economy.
The facility will be disbursed through participating Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), which will in turn extend the loans to their customers, particularly SMEs, as they directly interface with businesses at the grassroots level.
The Executive Director of COMCIN, Mr. Micheal Ogbaa who represented the Chairman, Dr. Iredele Oyedele (FCA, FCCA), said the initiative is designed to strengthen micro-lending institutions and expand access to finance for grassroots entrepreneurs, particularly women and youths in the informal sector.
Ogbaa explained that COMCIN does not lend directly to individuals but works through its network of microfinance and cooperative institutions, which in turn provide loans to end users.
“We came together to advocate for the microfinance ecosystem. Commercial banks often exclude people at the grassroots, but our members are positioned to reach them. This facility will empower them to do more,” he said.
He noted that the loan scheme offers low interest rates and flexible repayment plans, making it more accessible to small business owners.
According to him, about 90 percent of beneficiaries are expected to be women, who play a key role in sustaining families and driving economic activities at the local level.
“Our focus is on traders, service providers, and players in the informal sector. These are the real movers of the economy. By supporting them, we are strengthening families and contributing to national development,” he added.
Ogbaa disclosed that eligible SMEs with proven integrity and business track records could access up to N5 million each through participating micro-lending institutions. The rollout has commenced in Lagos and will extend to Abuja, Enugu, and other regions, including the South-West, South-East, and North-East.
He said 12 micro-lending institutions have already benefited from the scheme, while 85 applications are currently being processed under the pilot phase.
“Our target is to reach at least 100,000 SMEs nationwide. We are building a platform that connects funding partners with credible micro-lending institutions, creating a reliable channel for financial inclusion,” Ogbaa said.
He added that COMCIN is also working to attract larger funding pools from development finance institutions and private investors, noting that successful implementation of the pilot phase would boost confidence and unlock more capital for SMEs.
“We have seen encouraging testimonies from early beneficiaries. As we demonstrate transparency and efficiency, more institutions will be willing to channel funds through us,” he said.
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