Geared Up: Strides towards changing the narrative of Nigerian youths

“The Nigerian Dream” is not a common phrase amongst the average Nigerian youths, as the environment itself largely influences a survival mentality that barely leaves room for lofty dreams. An environment, where youth poverty and other challenges facing the average Nigerian youth are as obvious as a floating red flag in the bright morning sky.

However, it is not all gloom and doom. With a population nearing 200million and the youth making up over 60% of that number, we are a nation with unlimited and untapped potential, largely due to poor short-sighted leadership and resource management. It is all about perspective.

Do you know that?

In view of the recent Libya slave trade saga in which a lot of Nigerian youths who in search of greener pastures drowned at sea or found themselves in torture camps or worst still sold into slavery for $400. Not to mention the prediction of Nigeria becoming the country with the largest number of poor people by February 2018, it is obviously high time for Nigerian youths to seize their future and do it now with the right form of support from veterans and established personalities.

So what are going to do about this? Go to war?

The Geared Up Initiative is an economic empowerment campaign driven by a network of young Nigerians from all walks of life and realities, who are fed up with the status quo and are willing to go the extra mile to change the narrative by developing ideal businesses or ideas that have the capacity to generate exponential returns and create jobs massively – directly and indirectly.

Comprising of an advisory board and project team of individuals with track record in advancing youth capital development, the selected businesses / ideas for the project roll-out cuts across various industries and sectors such as agriculture, environmental / waste management, digital technology, education, hospitality, sports and tourism.

The objective and approach of the Geared Up Initiative is to leverage the power and reach of media to drive awareness for youth owned businesses that have been reviewed to be ideal, with the aim of:

Gaining investor interest and investment funding
Accessing support funds to drive business / idea scaleup
Access enterprise advancement support e.g sales facilitation, service boost etc.

Attract positive attention for Nigerian youth entrepreneurial endeavors as well as existing challenges and opportunities.

Facilitate strategic bootstrapping of these businesses or ideas to ensure growth and ability to internally generate needed funds for scale up.

It is worthy to note that some of the business entries were selected and won the Don Etiebet Innovative Prize Award even before the full project rollout.

This is a clarion call to well-meaning individuals world over to help our audacious goal of changing the average youth narrative and driving economic growth.

More information about the project, businesses and support / investment benefits can be found on

www.234central.com/geared-up

#GearedUp_9ja

…Let us seize the future today!

MEET AYOTUNDE SOFELA, THE FEMALE MECHANIC WHOSE HEART BEATS FOR PROPER MAINTENANCE OF CARS

Goldfishes have no hiding place, so I guess this is why Ayo could not find a hiding place either. My first contact with her was on Twitter when I was looking out for women in male-dominated industries. I had an open mind while I was on the lookout but my thought had not given me the clue that I 'd stumble a sweet female Mechanic. Ayotunde Sofela is a 25-year-old Mechanic from Abeokuta in Ogun state. Born and bred in the boisterous city of Lagos and a 400 level computer science student at the National Open University (NOUN). She is the dedicated hands behind Ayomatics Garage, a young startup focused on delivering efficient, reliable, and trustworthy automobile repair, maintenance and consultation. "I didn’t always have this passion from childhood. Like most children, I wanted to grow up to be a doctor. I think that was influenced by the fact that I spent my childhood days in the midst of medical practitioners. When I got into a secondary school, that idea chang...

WE SHOULD ALL BE MINERS

This is a new year and I am in a good mood to give you diamond, gold, silver or even platinum. Just mention your preferred choice! If you took the words you read now to heart. That makes you a bigger joker than I am. The honest truth is that the most satisfying gift you could ever have is one given to you by YOU. Whatsoever, you desire is waiting for you to take action to make it happen? What are you willing to do to make it a reality? How bad do you want it? How long do you want to sit and watch like a lonely puppy and hoping a bright light will shine through? I have got news for you. There is no bright light coming to you. That bright is YOU Confucius is quoted to have whispered, "A ll good things are difficult to achieve; and bad things are very easy to get.” He was not far from the truth. Those fine metals hanging on your neck, sitting comfortably on your earlobe, caressing your ring or perhaps your middle finger didn't just find its way to the jewelry sh...

TOP SKILLS AMAKA'S YOUNG STARTUP NEEDS TO AVOID 'DISAPPOINTMENT'

Amaka is one of the smartest people I have met. Come to think of it, she was raised in Onitsha, Anambra State and the ever bustling city of Lagos. You can say business sense comes easy to her, having lived in these two cities. When the year began, she planned to increase her clientele to at least hundred for the year. Lately, she got a ink that also enables her get quality supply of super stylish clothes. However, the goal of the year has been dwindling. She has been on an emotional roller coaster on why her business has not been going as planned. We all know business has it's good days and it's bad days. But these... has been bad daaaaaaays. Before we attribute anything to fate and the circumstance. One thing is evident, she has not been making efficient use of her resources that will help her nail her goal for the year. What in Christ heaven's is she going to do? There is a very thick line between wanting and needing a thing. With the ...

JENNIE IFEATU

Search This Blog