Youth Empowerment: Achudume disburses ₦15 Million to young entrepreneurs in tribute to late wife
The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church, Apostle Lawrence Achudume, on Sunday disbursed ₦15 million to young Nigerian entrepreneurs across sectors including catering, logistics, tailoring, fashion designing and shoe-making following the conclusion of the church’s Youth On Fire Convention in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Speaking to journalists after the event, Achudume said he was offering the support in view of the critical economic condition in the country.
“Nigeria is facing economic challenges that impact everyone but I believe strongly that our youths are the key to navigating these headwinds and charting a path of growth,” Achudume remarked. “In the face of downturns affecting our economy, it is imperative that young Nigerians take their destinies into their own hands.
“Entrepreneurship is a vital route for youths to create opportunities, drive innovation, and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s economic revival. We need our young people to be agents of change, creating jobs not just for themselves but for others.”
The cleric stressed the importance of equipping youth with tools and resources for sustainability, noting Nigeria’s progress hinges on harnessing its youthful demographic.
He continued: “The reason behind this empowerment is to make our youths reliable, capable, and self-sustaining. We want them to have the wherewithal to stand on their own feet, to dream big, and to execute those dreams in ways that uplift themselves and our nation.
“ In today’s Nigeria, we need initiatives that can bolster youth sustenance because when youths thrive, the nation prospers.
“This gesture is in loving remembrance of my wife, Reverend Fola Achudume, who was profoundly passionate about youth development and entrepreneurship,” Achudume added.
Also speaking on the empowerment initiative, Wole Elusakin, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pomegranate Nigeria Limited, who collaborated with Professor Eniola Fabusoro and Dr Toyin Banjo, in selecting the beneficiaries, stated: “Youth are the future of tomorrow, and they need an enabling environment to flourish. We charged them to be uncompromisingly focused and unbound in their pursuit of success.
“ This was not a straightforward exercise; it was rigorous, involving proposal reviews and intensive mentoring. The beneficiaries weren’t just handed ‘free money’; they will be followed up, and they’ll receive further mentorship and training to ensure they maximize this empowerment for business growth and sustainability. Investing in young Nigerians is investing in our collective future,” Elusakin noted.
