Foundation empowers 49 youths with N1m each in Imo

The Eze Mitchell Egbukole Foundation (EMEF) has empowered 49 youths in Imo with N1 million to start up their businesses.

The foundation also gave N500,000 each to nine people.

Speaking during the disbursement of the funds on Friday, Ikenna Egbukole, the founder of the foundation, said the beneficiaries were drawn from the 48 communities in Owerri-north, Owerri-west and Owerri-municipal LGAs.

He added that they were selected after taking part in a two-day training programme that covered essential aspects of business management, including marketing, strategy, customer service, and financial management.

He noted that the initiative started in 2019 in honour of Mitchell Ezesoaga Egbukole, his late father, who was the Ochoronma IV of the Egbu community.

“The first initiative programme focused more on the Egbu autonomous community, where five promising young entrepreneurs were granted N1 million each and three others were gifted N300,000 each, totalling N5.9 million for a start. It was launched in 2019,” he said.

“Five years later, we have increased our funding almost tenfold to 54.5 million naira. This is to demonstrate our commitment to supporting entrepreneurship on a broader scale.

“While we wish we could support every applicant, our resources allow us to fund only a selected number.

“Mind you, the grant is a vote of confidence in your potential to drive positive change in your communities, and your emergence was never influenced by anybody. It is entirely on merit.”

Also speaking, Mitchell Egbukole, the traditional ruler of the community, urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity and “multiply it in years to come”.

The event was attended by political leaders, including Ralph Nwosu, Imo state commissioner for works; Emeka Ukaegbu, commissioner for youth development and talent hunt; Kelechi Ofurum, a member representing Owerri-north state constituency; and traditional and religious leaders.