Sequel to the approval of the Federal Executive Council for the creation of the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) introduced for youth empowerment, the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has constituted a committee to coordinate elistment of Ekiti youths in the programme.
The 7 man committee is made up of the commissioner for Youth and Sports Development , Mr Michael Awopetu as chairman.
Other members of the committee are the commissioner for women Affairs the Social Development, Chief Moji Fafure; the chairman, House Committee on Youth Development, Hon Olatunji Joseph, Special Adviser, Investment, Trade and Innovations, Mr Akintunde Oyebode; Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Ekiti Chapter, Mr Eyitayo Fabunmi; Secretary, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Ekiti Chapter, Mr Babatunde Adeoye and the Director of Administration and Supplies, p & E, Mr Olubunmi Oluwalana Secretary of the committee.
The chairman of the committee, Mr Michael Awopetu who made this known in Ado Ekiti, explained that the aim of the fund is to reach 500,000 youths annually between 2020 and 2023 adding that each fund approval would range form 250,000 naira to 50million naira for both individual and group applicants.
“A minimum of 25billion naira each year in the next 3 years, totalling 75billion naira will be required to ring_fence the NYIF. For the remaining part of 2020 an initial sum of 12.5billion naira will be needed to kick start the NYIF. It is expected that successive governments will keep the fund akin to a Youth Bank, alive,” he said.
According to him, “the fund will serve as catalyst to unleash the potential of the youth and enable many of them build businesses that will employ and in turn empower others.
“Youths seeking to benefit from the fund must have a fundable business ideas, registered business and be a citizen of Nigeria as well as present recognized means of identification and guarantors”.