Project Youthspark Osun, an initiative aimed at boosting employability and entrepreneurship among youths in the state, has graduated its first cohort after a three-week intensive training program.
The programme is organized by School of Politics, Policy and Governance.
The closing ceremony, held at Abeere on Friday, saw three outstanding trainees awarded grants to establish their proposed business ideas.
The first-place winner received ₦700,000, while the second and third-place winners received ₦500,000 and ₦300,000, respectively.
In addition to the grants, other trainees benefited from internship programs, while some received ₦50,000 awards for excellence in class participation, punctuality, and other categories.
Representing the Osun State Governor, Commissioner for empowerment, Bayo Ogungbangbe commended the facilitators for commencing an impactful initiative in the State.
The Commissioner added the State Government is committed to put in place policies that will enable the youths to thrive and grow in the present economy.
Olufunmi Olaosun, Project Team Lead of Youthspark Osun, emphasized the initiative’s importance in empowering Osun’s youth, highlighting benefits such as active participation in class and effective business proposal pitching.
“The project youth spark which is an employability and enterprise skill development , a student led group from the school of politics policy and Governance , it was a virtual training and we are glad for the participation of the team.
“The goal of this project is to empower the youth, The unemployment rate in Nigeria is alarming ,we can’t sit and fold our hands and say we are waiting for the Government, we are the government in our own little way we thought to organise a skill training so that the young people who participate will be equipped and get engaged .
“We have supported those that have pitched their business ideas with grants, and we also gave some internships programmes”, she explained further.
To ensure sustainability, Olaosun assured that grant beneficiaries will be closely monitored to ensure judicious use of funds.
“We are not just giving them money, they will be monitored, and for each development seen in their businesses, we will be giving them the money in tranches to ensure they make judicious use of the money. We will make available internships so they can be employable and create an enabling environment for others as well”, she added.
“Our hope is to train more youths in the State, so they can be employed, be employable and be able to create more job opportunities for others”, she reiterated.
Adekunle Ademola, Chairman of the Youth Advisory Council, commended the initiative’s facilitators, stressing its significance in promoting the state’s economic sector.
Beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the Team for the training while adding that the three weeks training were impactful and will judiciously make use of the knowledge and grants given to them.
InsightMedia in July, reported the launch of Project YouthSpark in Osun and commencement of a three-week online training program, aimed at curbing unemployment in the state.
