FG launches YouWiN! Connect to support young Nigerian entrepreneurs; apply

Powered by the Federal Ministry of Finance, the YouWiN! Programme relaunches as YouWiN! Connect. According to the Federal Government, the multimedia based relaunched version seeks to support young entrepreneurs as they plan, start and grow their businesses.

This will be done by providing Enterprise Education as well as access to technical and consulting services.

The YouWiN Connect was specifically brought back to promote entrepreneurship, job creation and wealth via enterprise education for young Nigerians.

Criteria

To be considered for the programme, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Applicants must have post-secondary school qualification.
• Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 40.
• Applicants must be Nigerians and resident in Nigeria.
• Applicants businesses must be domiciled in Nigeria.
• Applicants must be able to communicate effectively – speaking and writing – in English.
• Applicants must be willing to attend all training and mentoring exercises organised by the programme.
• Applicants must not be an employee of the Nigerian Civil Service.

Participation in the YouWiN Connect is in three phases. Upon application, 55,500 applicants will be shortlisted for the second phase which involves online training. Those who will participate in the online training will gain access to modules in business planning. The modules encompass access to finance, market, business strategy, etc. At the end of this phase, only 5,000 participants will proceed to the next phase.

The next phase, which is the Masterclass Training or Accelerator Phase will have the selected 5,000 applicants trained face to face in batches across startup hubs in the nation. The focus will be on entrepreneurs in the following category:

• Information & Communication Technology (ICT)
• Agriculture/Agro-Processing
• Fashion
• Manufacturing & Retail
• Construction

Upon successful completion of these training, applicants will be issued certifications and required to submit a business plan with emphasis on where their business needs to be improved. Then support up to one year support is granted to those who emerge successfully.

If you are interested in applying, you may head to the YouWiN! Connect online portal to commence your application process.

Entries close on Wednesday, August 30, 2017.