Abuja: The Ugwumba Centre for Leadership Development in Africa (UCLA) has empowered more than 10,000 youths and 5,000 women through skills acquisition, mentorship, and seed capital support. The President of the Centre, Uche Nwosu, disclosed this at the grand finale of the Ugwumba SkillUp 2.0 Project, themed: ‘The Future is Entrepreneurial.’
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the initiative, which started nearly a decade ago, was designed to equip young Nigerians with practical skills and financial support to establish sustainable businesses. Nwosu emphasized the importance of not only training participants but also providing them with seed money to launch their ventures. He highlighted that the SkillUp programme complemented academic qualifications by equipping graduates with the entrepreneurial skills necessary to thrive in the economy, with training provided in various income-generating skills such as wig making, food preservation, paint production, mixology, and tailoring.
Nwosu detailed that more than 5,000 Nigerians registered for the programme last year, with 50 beneficiaries receiving seed funding, while over 8,000 applied in the latest edition. In the current cycle, 3,500 participants were trained, and 100 beneficiaries received grants to start their businesses. He highlighted that some products displayed at the exhibition were from beneficiaries of the programme. The initiative was supported through partnerships with individuals, organizations, and volunteers who provided resources and expertise, with some trainers offering their services free of charge.
He called for stronger collaboration between government and credible non-governmental organizations to ensure empowerment programmes reached grassroots beneficiaries. He urged government agencies to partner with organizations that have the reach and capacity to identify and support them. Nwosu advised beneficiaries to treat the grants as business investments, cautioning them against peer pressure and encouraging them to focus on growing sustainable enterprises.
During the event, Uju Rochas-Anwuka, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, delivered a keynote address stressing the importance of embracing entrepreneurship. She urged beneficiaries to invest their grants wisely and described the funds as a vote of confidence in their ability to build sustainable businesses. The presidential aide called for stronger partnerships among government, development partners, and the private sector to expand opportunities for young entrepreneurs.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees, the Emir of Dass, Usman Othman, commended the organization’s commitment to youth and women empowerment. He described entrepreneurship as critical to nation-building and encouraged beneficiaries to continuously improve their skills and products. Dr. Chudi Ezuruigwe, Acting Director of the Abuja Enterprise Agency, also urged participants to embrace lifelong learning, innovation, and integrity, stressing the importance of practical skills, creativity, and decisive action.
Earlier, the Director of Programmes of the centre, Blessing Kala-Kala, explained that the SkillUp 2.0 Project was designed to provide young Africans with skills, mentorship, and resources. She commended the Founder and Executive President of the Centre for his commitment to youth empowerment and leadership development. Kala-Kala assured beneficiaries of continued support from the centre and urged them to remain accountable, resilient, and committed to growing their businesses.