The Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, who stated this while speaking in Dubai at a town hall meeting with Nigerians resident in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), encouraged them to take advantage of
the Jonathan Administration’s many enterprise promotion services designed to nurture and fund the viable initiatives of Nigeria’s young
entrepreneurs.
Assuring them that the Federal Government was working hard to tackle the challenge of youth unemployment in the country, Yuguda stated that
beyond creating the enabling atmosphere to encourage investments, the Jonathan Administration had initiated successful programmes for direct job creation.
According to a statement by Ikechukwu Eze, the Minister’s Media Adviser, Yuguda who was Nigeria’s immediate past ambassador to the
UAE said: “We see all of you who are based abroad as worthy partners in the business of developing our country. We know you are learning from the experience of your host nations. You are witnesses to what their youths are doing in terms of enterprise development.
“This is part of the reason why the Jonathan Administration has designed various job creation initiatives especially the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment programme (SURE-P) which has so far created thousands of job opportunities for youths across the country with people like you in mind.”
Speaking further, Yuguda said: “The enrolment process of YouWin is online. You don’t have to come home to file your initial application. We believe some of you may have some wonderful business ideas and proposals that require funding to come to fruition. Once you scale through the very transparent assessment process, the government will be willing to provide the funds to help you establish and employ other Nigerians.”
The Minister reminded them that YouWin had already nurtured over 2,400 young entrepreneurs with over 22,000 jobs created in the first two
rounds, while additional two rounds envisioned. According to Yuguda,
the government has also launched a $50 million Venture Capital Fund accessible by YouWin beneficiaries and other viable small and medium
enterprises ( SMEs).
Yuguda told the audience that the Jonathan Administration has recorded substantial economic progress within a short time through successful
reforms in many sectors including finance, agriculture, power, transportation and general infrastructural development as well as
economic diversification accentuated by recent GDP rebasing.
He assured them further that President Jonathan’s commitment to good governance has deepened the democratic process by ensuring free and fair elections, adding that the 2015 general elections would hold as rescheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Chief Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra State, who was also at the event commended the people for being Nigeria’s good ambassadors and urged
them to bring home lessons of Dubai’s rapid development and spirit of hardwork.
The Consul-General of Nigerian Mission in Dubai Ambassador Mike Omotosho commended the Jonathan Administration for lessening the
burden of Nigerians in the UAE by opening the mission to handle their consular needs.