Etsu Nupe, Prof Iwu, Senator Ebok-Essien, Iyere, and Others Unveil FEEFUND

A New Initiative Aims to Empower Nigerian Youths and Women through Entrepreneurship

FUND-YES is a national grassroots economic self-emancipation, poverty alleviation, family economic empowerment, financial investment, and wealth-building business cooperative society. It targets youths, women, and interested financial investors, aiming to build a transnational grassroots cooperative business community. This platform offers Nigerian youth and women entrepreneurs opportunities to connect, partner, and conduct business with local, diaspora, and global financial investors for mutual benefit, generating income, and building wealth for themselves, their families, and the Nigerian economy. In its drive to establish a cooperative business community for financial investment and wealth creation through entrepreneurship, FUND-YES has launched the "FUND-YES Entrepreneurship Enhancement Fund," also known as "FeeFund." This initiative was unveiled on Friday, May 31, 2024, at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton Abuja by prominent Nigerians, including His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Yahaya Abubakar CFR (Etsu Nupe); Prof Maurice Iwu, former INEC Chairman and renowned Professor of Pharmacognosy; Senator Emmanuel Ebok-Essien, PANDEF Chairman and Founder of Ritman University; Hajiya Lami Adamu, President of National Council for Women Societies (NCWS); Dr Pogu Bitrus, Chairman of Middle Belt Forum (MBF); Apostle Lawrence Achudume, Senior Pastor of Victory Life Bible Church; Alhaja Rafiah Idowu Sanni, President of the Federation of Muslim Women Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN); Comrade Kennedy Iyere, a frontline Humanitarian Activist and high-profile Social Entrepreneur; Comrade Ken Robinson, National Organizing Secretary of PANDEF; Dr Yunusa Tanko, a renowned Statesman, and others.

The official launch of FeeFund was a high-profile dinner ceremony that brought together several dignitaries and notable public figures. In their individual interviews with the press, Etsu Nupe, Professor Maurice Iwu, Senator Emmanuel Ebok-Essien, Dr Sarah Ogar Mni, and Comrade Kennedy Iyere affirmed that the launch of FeeFund by FUND-YES Cooperative is a crucial step towards alleviating the economic hardships confronting millions of Nigerian families. They emphasized the urgent need to address the pervasive issues of insecurity, poverty, and hunger by creating job opportunities for Nigerian youths and women. They also stressed the importance of wealthy Nigerians, private sector organizations, and government at all levels partnering with this initiative and contributing to the fund to support its activities aimed at stimulating an entrepreneurial revolution in Nigeria. FeeFund is designed with a clear vision and multiple objectives that aim to foster economic growth and stability in Nigeria. By empowering Nigerian youths and women, FeeFund seeks to provide them with access to the necessary financial resources to start and grow their own businesses. This empowerment is not just about financial support but also includes mentorship and enterprise development assistance. By creating opportunities for self-employment and business ownership, FeeFund aims to alleviate poverty among Nigerian families. The initiative recognizes that poverty is a significant barrier to economic development and seeks to address this by enabling individuals to generate their own income and build wealth. One of the primary goals of FeeFund is to create jobs for the vast number of unemployed youths and women in Nigeria. By supporting entrepreneurs, the initiative hopes to stimulate job creation and reduce the high unemployment rate in the country. By fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and business development, FeeFund aims to contribute to the overall economic stability of Nigeria. The initiative recognizes that a robust economy is built on the foundation of a strong and vibrant entrepreneurial sector.

During the launch event, several key speakers delivered compelling speeches highlighting the importance and potential impact of FeeFund. His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Yahaya Abubakar CFR (Etsu Nupe), emphasized the critical need for initiatives like FeeFund in addressing the socio-economic challenges faced by Nigerian families. He highlighted the importance of empowering youths and women to drive economic growth and development. Prof Maurice Iwu, a renowned academic and former INEC Chairman, spoke about the transformative potential of entrepreneurship. He stressed that providing financial support and development assistance to entrepreneurs is essential for driving innovation and economic progress. Senator Emmanuel Ebok-Essien discussed the role of cooperative societies in fostering economic empowerment. He highlighted the importance of community-driven initiatives in addressing local economic challenges and creating sustainable solutions. Comrade Kennedy Iyere, as the founder of FUND-YES, passionately articulated the vision behind FeeFund. He underscored the critical necessity of addressing youth unemployment and household poverty to prevent future social unrest and ensure political stability. Iyere emphasized that the initiative is driven by the urgent need to create a supportive environment for aspiring entrepreneurs. The dignitaries highlighted the pressing issues of economic hardship, insecurity, poverty, and hunger in Nigeria, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts to create jobs and support entrepreneurship. They pointed out that the current economic challenges require innovative solutions that leverage the potential of Nigerian youths and women. The initiative focuses on the potential of Nigerian youths and women who, despite being intelligent and skilled, lack access to the necessary resources to start and grow their businesses. FeeFund aims to bridge this gap by providing not only financial support but also mentorship and training programs to equip entrepreneurs with the skills they need to succeed.

Comrade Kennedy Iyere underscored the critical necessity of addressing youth unemployment and household poverty to prevent future social unrest and ensure political stability. He pointed out that when youths are denied the opportunity to participate actively in the economy, they often turn to crime as an alternative. The rising youth unemployment in Nigeria is a ticking time bomb, and if not addressed, it could lead to severe social and political consequences. Iyere announced that the “FeeFund Global Donation Campaign” will kick off on Friday, June 7, 2024. This campaign will be driven by a high-powered team of advocates, including notable public figures, celebrities, grant specialists, fundraising professionals, business leaders, philanthropists, donors, and fundraising volunteers. The initial amount of philanthropic funds to be generated through the proposed global fundraising campaign will be disclosed during a press conference before the campaign’s launch. He urged wealthy Nigerians, foreign philanthropists, and prospective donors worldwide to generously partner with FeeFund by donating their funds. He also called on the Nigerian government at all levels to support and partner with FeeFund. FeeFund represents a bold and innovative approach to tackling some of Nigeria’s most pressing economic and social challenges. By providing financial support, mentorship, and development assistance to youths and women entrepreneurs, the initiative aims to create a sustainable path to economic empowerment and poverty alleviation. The success of FeeFund will depend on the collective efforts of all stakeholders, including wealthy Nigerians, private sector organizations, government entities, and international donors. Together, they can help build a brighter and more prosperous future for Nigeria.