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Funsho Hassan
As part of the efforts to lift more Nigerians and promote young entrepreneurs in the country, friends and associates of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are set to empower thousands of Nigerians tomorrow to commemorate the VP’s 64th birthday.
It was gathered that for years, friends and associates under the name “Friends of Prof” conceptualized “The March 8th Initiative” to positively impact on the lives of Nigerians with the provision of grants worth millions of Naira to help grow and advance their businesses to mark the VP’s birthday on every 8th of March.
The “Friends of Prof” which organises the annual March 8th Initiative, in a statement, stated that it would expand the scope and reach of the empowerment initiative this year in order to positively impact on a broader spectrum of Nigerians.
It said: “First, the Annual Entrepreneurship Development Programme has been reorganised into 4 categories providing more opportunities for young Nigerians between 18 and 35 years old, giving one-off business grants, ranging from N100,000 to N1,000,000 to small businesses in Nigeria. The four categories cover varying stages of small business growth as follows: Big Idea Business Challenge, Business Support Challenge, Catalyst Support Challenge and the Bold Innovation Challenge.
“Second, in addition to the Entrepreneurship Development Programme, the March 8th Initiative will recognise health workers nationwide who, in the face of a global pandemic, demonstrated exemplary courage, compassion, diligence, hard work and professionalism in carrying out their duties. Individuals are requested to nominate any health worker who has shown these qualities for a reward of N1 Million under a Health Grant Reward Category that acknowledges their invaluable service to our communities.
It added that the March 8th Initiative is undertaking a nationwide Ophthalmological intervention to provide succour in the form of surgeries and other therapeutic care for cataract and other eye defects.
The group said that entries will open at 12.00am on Monday, the 8th of March, 2021 and close at 11:59pm on Sunday, the 14th of March, 2021. All entries except those for “My Big Idea Business Challenge” must be submitted at www.march8th.ng.
It implored Nigerians to visit the website to nominate the deserving health worker of their choice, as well as to apply for any of the grant categories that is applicable to them.
It will be recalled that the “Friends of Prof” was a union of associates of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who came together to reflect upon the sterling qualities that define Osinbajo’s personal and leadership style and have chosen to support social impact causes that are close to his heart during his traditionally low-key birthday celebration.
At the last year’s edition, over 100 young entrepreneurs received business-defining grants of 1 Million Naira each that helped grow and advance their businesses, among other incubator support services from close friends and associates of ‘Prof’ as he is fondly called under the auspices of ‘The March 8th Initiative.
