Call for participation
Youths Capacity Building and Business Development Training, Delta State, Nigeria
About the Project
Youths Capacity Building and Business Development Training, Nigeria is a project funded by the Center for International Migration and Development, Germany, under the “Promotion offer to strengthen diaspora organization development engagement.” The project targets to reduce the high youth unemployment rate in Nigeria, which poses an increasing threat to the country’s development and social peace. The project tends to enhance local skills through a sustainable transfer of knowledge from German-based experts of Nigerian origin in collaboration with experts in Nigeria to create economic and social prospects for the Nigerian youths.
Due to the in-depth entrepreneurial expertise of the project partners – German-based diaspora organization AGIC and the partner organization SSC (a subsidiary of ICDAglobal), this project will empower young (prospective) entrepreneurs to participate in the selection process of local and international business funding opportunities. Furthermore, the project will lead to young entrepreneurs’ exposure to international mentoring opportunities and business cooperation, establishing a strong relationship between the Nigerians in the diaspora and youth entrepreneurs in Nigeria. More importantly, this project will help further change Nigerian youths’ mindsets against irregular migration and discourage them from embarking on the unplanned and dangerous journey to Europe.
Objectives of the Project
The project will reduce business skills gaps among youths by-
- Coaching participants to develop business ideas, write proposals, apply for business funding opportunities, and maintain good relationships with customers.
- Improving participants’ knowledge of the use of ICTs in business. It will also help participants identify ICTs tools that are freely available and understand how to use and apply them to their business.
- Strengthening the agriculture value chain by teaching the participants how to engage in marketing/exports of agricultural products.
- Providing transferable skills, business motivation, networking, and mentorship to enhance participants’ capacity to set up and sustain business enterprises.
Project expectations
The Youths Capacity Building and Business Development Training welcomes applications from Nigerians between 18 to 40 years who are interested in starting up a business or expanding an already existing business. The maiden edition comprises three months of training in Delta State, Nigeria, and the online mentoring phase after graduation. The expected stages of the project are as follows.
Application Phase
The application phase will take place between January 1 to March 31, 2021. At the closure of the application window, applicants who meet the eligibility criteria would be contacted by the selection committee for interviews.
Training Phase
Shortlisted candidates would be invited to participate in the training to be hosted between April 1 and June 30, 2021. German and Nigerian-based experts will train the participants on four modules organized in the form of workshops.
- Workshop 1: Entrepreneurship education
- Workshop 2: ICT for business
- Workshop 3. Agriculture value chain development
- Workshop 4. Soft transferable skills and field trip
Graduation Phase
The graduation event will include an entrepreneurship workshop and networking opportunities for participating youths, diaspora groups, and local businesses.
Sustainability Phase
The sustainability phase is the mentorship phase, which continues even after the project ends. Business activities of the participants will be monitored to ensure that they continue with their start-ups. The diaspora and Nigerian based mentors will continue mentoring through emails and video meetings to ensure business sustainability.
Eligibility
The ideal candidate would generally be between 18 to 40 years. All education levels, including higher education, secondary school graduates, and dropouts, are eligible to apply. Applicants do not need to provide business ideas during the application phase but must produce a business proposal to graduate. Considering that the training would be conducted in Delta State, applicants who are indigenes of Delta State or residents would be given priority. In the comment section, other applicants should indicate if they can support themselves in Delta State between April and June 2021.
Female and return migrants are specifically encouraged to apply.
Youths Capacity Building and Business development training is a project of African German Information Center (AGIC) with the financial support of Center for International Migration (CIM)
In collaboration with and Sub-Saharan Entrepreneurial and Leadership Development Center (SSC) Nigeria
Networking Partners
Sub Saharan Open University
GCE-Victoria Education Foundation, Nigeria
African Heritage Media International
International Center for Development Affairs Nigeria.
For more information, check AGIC webpage