Enugu NYSC Member Wins N500,000 Entrepreneurship Grant

N500,000 Entrepreneurship Grant Awarded to Enugu State NYSC Member by Fidelity Bank

Chidubem Okafor, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member serving in Enugu State, has been honored with a N500,000 entrepreneurship grant from Fidelity Bank. This initiative is part of the bank’s efforts to support young graduates within the NYSC framework, specifically under the “1st Quarter NYSC GAIM Season 6 Promo Winners” campaign.

During the grant presentation, Mrs. Ivuoma Nwosu, the Sales Coordinator for Fidelity Bank in the Enugu Region, highlighted that the financial assistance is intended to help Okafor launch his entrepreneurial ventures following the completion of his NYSC service. She conveyed that this initiative is a segment of a larger program aimed at empowering Corps members throughout Nigeria.

Mrs. Nwosu explained that Okafor was chosen as one of nine beneficiaries through an electronic random selection process, which included individuals from various states where Corps members had opened accounts with the bank during their orientation camps. “Our promotional campaign encouraged Corps members to create accounts, giving them the chance to benefit from this grant,” she stated. “Chidubem is the only recipient from Enugu, where he resides in the Enugu North Council Area. This grant is aimed at enabling him to establish a meaningful enterprise post-NYSC.”

She urged Okafor to stay committed and utilize the funds wisely, expressing enthusiasm about the positive change the grant could foster.

The Chairman of Enugu North Council Area, Mr. Ibenaku Onoh, congratulated Okafor on the award and commended Fidelity Bank for their initiative. He also highlighted several complimentary entrepreneurial skill development programs available within the council and encouraged Corps members to seize these growth opportunities.

To further show support, Onoh personally presented Okafor with an additional N200,000, urging other financial institutions to emulate Fidelity Bank’s efforts in empowering emerging entrepreneurs.

In a similar vein, Mrs. Olukemi Awolola, the NYSC Enugu State Coordinator, lauded Fidelity Bank’s initiative and encouraged Corps members to engage in skill acquisition training actively. “Chidubem was notably proactive during the orientation camp, and today, his efforts have been recognized. I applaud Fidelity Bank for this impressive initiative and urge other banks to collaborate with NYSC in creating additional opportunities for our youth,” she remarked.

In his response, Okafor expressed deep gratitude to Fidelity Bank, admitting that he initially questioned the authenticity of the campaign. “I am a 2024 Batch C1 Corps member, and at first, I thought it was a scam when it was introduced at our orientation camp. But today, I am thrilled to receive this grant. It will provide significant financial support, and I promise to make good use of the funds,” he said.