The Gen AI Network (GAIN) is an initiative designed to equip university students with hands-on experience in Artificial Intelligence.

Through a combination of workshops, collaborative projects, and an inter-university hackathon, GAIN empowers students to build professional portfolios that enhance their career opportunities while connecting them with global AI companies.

According to Michael Osumo, InstigLabs project manager, the GAIN Hackathon is a flagship event where students tackle pressing challenges across various sectors – Healthcare, Finance, Education, etc – using AI-driven solutions. Participating teams work to develop innovative prototypes, competing for cash prizes and potential incubation

The judges of the hackathon include Manasseh Egedegbe, Derek Cheung, Taiwo Sulaimon, Joshua Udensi, and Eric Ezenwanne.

“The quality of products built by the teams was quite impressive, especially given their age. These are software that can compete at the global stage”, remarked Eric, founder of Keyz Health, a USA-based health services company and partner of the program.

“Winning teams are selected based on clarity, innovation, technical execution, feasibility, value, presentation and impact of their AI solutions. Their achievements not only mark technical excellence but also showcase AI’s potential in solving real-world problems,” said Taiwo Sulaimon, one of the judges, who is also cofounder of GetCrib.co, a property tech platform.

Konsume, the winning application, offers tailored meal recommendations based on individual dietary needs, health conditions, and preferences, ensuring users receive personalized solutions for their nutrition goals.

The platform integrates with restaurants to provide curated meal options while enabling users to track their progress and maintain customizable meal timetables.

Konsume also fosters community engagement through interactive blogs and streaks, allowing users to share tips, recipes, and achievements.

The team is made up of Backend developer, Hasbiyallah Oyebo, Frontend developer, Oluwasegun Ojo, and Product designer, Seyi Ogundipe.

The second prize went to ClarkAI, an AI-powered study assistant that helps students quickly generate notes and summaries from PDFs, YouTube videos, and voice input.

The platform offers AI-driven insights, multi-language support for translating materials, and an AI image scanner to analyze scanned notes.

The ClarkAI team is made up of UI/UX Designer, Ogundipe Oluwaseyi Emmanuel, and developer, Ashiru Sheriffdeen Olanrewaju.

GetoAI, an application that automates the creation of newsletters on recent advancements in machine learning, deep learning, and AI, emerged third in the competition.

The GetoAI team includes developer, Chukwuebuka Ezeokeke, Python developer, Nwokocha Bethel Dan, and Assistant developer, Ezeugwu Romanus Chukwuemeka.

As part of the presentation ceremony, the winning teams paid a visit to the head office and facilities of the Falcon Aerospace Limited, the mother company of InstigLabs where they met with top executives of the company including CEO, Erika Achum, Head of Product & Innovation, Basil Agbor and Pilot, Funmi Marcus.

Professor Benedict Okey Oramah, the president of the Bank, stated this at the 5th edition of youth summit organised by Grand Africa Initiative (GAIN), a pan-african non-governmental organization, in Abuja on the theme “Connecting Africa through Youth Entrepreneurship and Digital Innovation”.

Over the years, youth representatives from 91 countries, officials of Federal and State governments, development partners, notably, Development Bank of Africa (DBN), Afreximbank, and several others participated in the Summit.

The Afreximbank President in his submissions, said Africa is home to the youngest and fastest-growing population in the world, with more than 60 per cent of the continent’s population under the age of 25.

“This vibrant and dynamic youth population represents not only a challenge but also an immense opportunity for growth, innovation, and transformation across the continent.

“The youths of Africa are increasingly becoming the driving force of economic and social change. Their energy, creativity, and resilience are leading the charge in reimagining what is possible for the future of our nations.

“Yet, while this youth population holds immense potential, they often face significant challenges which include limited access to education and skills training, a lack of job opportunities, and barriers to entrepreneurship.

“With our youth population projected to double by 2050, young people are the driving force behind what we see today as Africa’s economic transformation. Our youths are creative, resourceful, energetic, innovative and resilient.

“A recent empirical survey of 4,507 young Africans from 15 countries shows that 78 per cent of young Africans between the ages of 18 and 24 plan to start businesses within the next five years. They need the necessary knowledge, mentorship, and support, particularly digital infrastructure to enable them succeed.”

Ambassador Isaac Parashina, Kenyan High Commissioner to Nigeria, In his presentation, also highlighted the fact that Africa is home to approximately 1.4 billion people, and It’s regarded the youngest continent in the world.

He said:

“The theme of this year’s Summit provides us with the opportunity to critically examine the nexus between youth entrepreneurship and digital transformation for a prosperous Africa, which is more recognized as the continent of the future because of its vast natural resources, vibrant youthful population, and rapidly expanding markets.

“With a rich abundance of resources and untapped potential, Africa stands at a critical juncture where strategic investments and innovations could propel it to become a global leader in various sectors.

“The continent’s demographic profile, particularly its youth, offers a unique advantage that can drive the next wave of economic growth and development. But to unlock Africa’s full potential for growth and prosperity, a focused and concerted approach is required.

“Undisputedly, the youths of Africa represent a tremendous resource that is currently underutilized. With over 70 per cent of the population under the age of 30, the continent has an energetic and innovative workforce, but the major hindrance to harnessing the full potential is the lack access to the necessary resources, education, and support systems to turn their ideas into viable businesses or impactful ventures.”

He insisted that deliberate policy actions must be undertaken by governments and other interlocutors to empower the youth to engage in entrepreneurship in order to create jobs, foster innovation, and diversify African economies.

The Kenyan Diplomat further stated that entrepreneurship is a critical component of Africa’s economic future and by creating an environment where young people can thrive as entrepreneurs, Africa will be able to harness the full power of its youthful population.

“This can be achieved by providing access to finance, mentorship, and networks that encourage innovation and risk-taking. Promoting a culture of entrepreneurship across the continent will not only address the issue of youth unemployment but also stimulate economic growth, creating new industries and business opportunities in both urban and rural areas.

“Equally important is the need to invest in robust digital infrastructure across the continent. The digital revolution has transformed economies worldwide, and Africa must not be left behind. It enables connectivity, which is crucial for the success of businesses, particularly start-ups. Reliable internet, mobile technology, and digital payment systems can help young entrepreneurs access global markets, collaborate with international partners, and create scalable solutions to local problems.

“With the right tools and support, the youths can drive entrepreneurship that fuels economic growth, while digital infrastructure would enhance efficiency and connectivity across the continent.”

Meanwhile, Ms. Chinwe Okoli, the founder of the organisation, in her remarks, said that for many years, the organization has engaged in developing and harnessing unique ideas, talents and abilities of young ones in Africa, helping them to succeed in education, entrepreneurship, innovation and employment.

She said:

“We have trained, mentored, and empowered African youths with digital, leadership, employability, and entrepreneurial skills for self-sustenance and professional growth using the limited resources available to us.”

A participant, Abdullahi Musa, described the Summit as an eye opener for him, considering the knowledge that was made available to him.

He said:

“I participated in previous Summits and other Masterclasses organised by GAIN. Those opportunities have helped me develop and sharpen my entrepreneurship skills, and I can see impact in my engagements afterwards.”

This transformative initiative is set to empower 350 women entrepreneurs who would be selected from across Nigeria, providing them with essential skills to foster the growth and expansion of their enterprises over a comprehensive six-week training period.

Application for GAIN Entrepreneurship Masterclass for Women (Nigeria)’ opens on September 6, 2024. The program will include training and mentorship sessions which will be held virtually.

In a joint statement released by DBN and GAIN, it was highlighted that the Women’s Masterclass has been meticulously designed to address the unique challenges faced by female entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

The program will offer targeted support in areas such as financial literacy, strategic marketing, business modeling, legal aspects of business, structure and processes, customer management, business branding and so much more, enabling participants to fully capitalize on the opportunities available in Nigeria’s growing economy.

 “At DBN, we believe that women entrepreneurs are crucial to the sustainable development of Nigeria’s economy. Our partnership with GAIN reaffirms our commitment to supporting women-led MSMEs by providing them with the necessary tools, knowledge, and financial empowerment to thrive. By addressing the specific challenges women face in business, we are creating a more inclusive and resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through initiatives like this, we aim to close the gender gap in entrepreneurship, ensuring women entrepreneurs have equal access to resources, training, and financing” said Dr. Tony Okpanachi, managing director/CEO of Development Bank of Nigeria.

Janet Oladapo, the Programme Officer for GAIN commented on the continued collaboration with DBN, “We are excited for the impact that this holds as we have seen remarkable success in the previous 4 editions of our entrepreneurial masterclasses, and we are happy to extend this opportunity to more women entrepreneurs in 2024.

This Masterclass not only offers participants high-quality training; it also provides them with opportunities to network, receive guidance from seasoned global mentors, and acquire the comprehensive knowledge needed to drive substantial growth in their businesses.”

The Entrepreneurship Masterclass aligns with the broader missions of both GAIN and DBN. Both partners remain committed to empowering African youths and women by providing them with skills and resources necessary to drive sustainable economic development across the continent.

DBN, on the other hand, continues to support Nigeria’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by alleviating financing constraints and creating an enabling environment for their growth.

How to APPLY:

Applicants can apply online via the link HERE.

The training program will focus on entrepreneurship and intra-African trade and is set to commence in March 2024.

The GAIN-Afreximbank Masterclass on Entrepreneurship and Intra-African Trade has been meticulously designed to equip young African entrepreneurs from various regions of the African continent with essential skills to foster the growth and expansion of their enterprises beyond their individual national borders.

Over a comprehensive six-week program, participants will gain valuable insights into how to build and expand their businesses leveraging the intra-African Market.

Participants will receive technical guidance, practical training, and business advisory from a faculty of international experts.

Moreover, this program aims to enhance inclusivity in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by offering interventions that specifically support young Africans, women, and small and medium-sized enterprises.

Interested individuals are encouraged to submit their applications through the official program website (click here).

Prospective entrepreneurs will be selected from across Africa and are required to meet the following criteria:

• Must be between age 20 to 45 years old
• Must be a registered business entity.
• Must be of African descent
• Must have a business in Africa
• Must have a business that has been in operation for a minimum of two years.
• Must have access to a stable internet connection and electricity.
• Have a good knowledge of English Language

Yusuf Daya, director, AU/AfCFTA Relations and Trade Policy, Afreximbank emphasized the crucial importance of capacitating young African entrepreneurs to take full advantages of the opportunities availed by the AfCFTA.

“Our renewed support to the GAIN Masterclass underscores the Bank’s efforts to develop skills of African youth and build African entrepreneurial capacity under the Afreximbank Academy (AFRACAD). We look forward to an even more successful program in 2024 following the highly impactful masterclass in 2022 which helped build the capacity of 200 entrepreneurs from across the continent”, Daya said.

Jerry Ojima Momoh, the partnership lead at GAIN, expressed his enthusiasm, stating,

“This marks the fifth edition of GAIN Entrepreneurship masterclass series designed to empower African youths. We have two series so far focused on training women and three series now open to both male and female. We are happy to have this partnership with Afreximbank again this year to provide invaluable entrepreneurial support to young entrepreneurs. In 2022, we trained participants from 29 countries across Africa. Beyond the training, participants will gain in-depth knowledge, build connections, and access mentorship from experienced global mentors, all of which will have a successful impact on their business growth.”

According to the organizers, the course is designed to equip selected young women entrepreneurs from across the country with entrepreneurial knowledge and skills to build and scale their businesses to create wealth and jobs.

The training will cover areas critical to the success of MSMEs including ideation, legal, branding, marketing, communication, accounting, modelling, taxation, team building, structure etc.

Describing the significance of the Women Entrepreneurship Masterclass, Dr. Tony Okpanachi, the Managing Director, DBN, said:

“We are excited about this initiative which speaks to our mandate of providing sustainable funding, building capacity of the Nigerian MSMEs and also providing credit guarantee. The GAIN initiative has become imperative to reach as many women as possible by leveraging technology and promoting gender equality. At the end of this exercise, we hope to see more empowered women creating opportunities towards achieving sustainable social economic development”

On his part, Mr Jerry Momoh, the Programs and Partnership Lead at GAIN, stated;

“we are delighted to have the support of DBN as we continue to empower women to build sustainable businesses. This training prepares the women to develop themselves, empower them to develop their businesses, equip them with knowledge to create wealth and jobs by building thriving businesses. We strongly believe that entrepreneurship is a powerful tool for economic empowerment and gender inclusion. At GAIN, we are committed to supporting women and young people in general to unleash their potential and contribute significantly to economic development of Nigeria”.

According to Mr Momoh, this program is in line with one of our focus areas at Grand Africa Initiative-GAIN which is Women Empowerment.

He said the program is targeted at selected women from across Nigeria and who will benefit from a faculty of experts in various aspects of business.

“Eligible for the program are women who have a business or a business idea, between 22 to 45 years of age, have demonstrable interest in business, access to internet, internet-enabled device, and electricity to participate in the program. GAIN Entrepreneurship Masterclass for Women (Nigeria)’ is scheduled to open a call for application on July 4, 2023. The six week program will include training and mentorship sessions which will be held virtually”.

Application Link is via:  bit.ly/GAINDBN

The program GAIN – AFREXIMBANK Masterclass on Entrepreneurship and Intra-Africa Trade is an empowerment program.

This is part of the Africa Export-Import Bank’s effort to increase participation of African young entrepreneurs in cross border trade and expand trading activity under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) which is pivotal to the continent’s economic transformation.

Grand Africa Initiative (GAIN ) is a Pan-African Non-governmental organization helping African young men and women, between 15 and 35 years, develop and harness their unique ideas, talents and abilities for success in education, entrepreneurship, innovation and employment.

Training, empowering and providing technical support to African young men and women by equipping them with digital, leadership, employability, and entrepreneurial skills for self-sustenance.

The program was designed to equip young African entrepreneurs who were selected from across Africa with skills to build and scale their businesses across borders; learn key insights that will help them identify opportunities in various African Markets, expand their businesses, manage trade finance, form partnerships, grow their income, leverage the opportunities of the AfCFTA, attract foreign direct investment and create employment for more youths.

The program received applications from one thousand, three hundred and seventy-six (1,376) young African entrepreneurs from twenty-nine(29) African countries  across the five(5) regions in Africa out of which two hundred (200) were selected.

The participants were selected based on the set criteria.

The program kicked off on the August 8th, 2022 with a virtual opening ceremony which had the Executive Director Grand Africa Initiative-GAIN, Ms. Chinwe Okoli; the Senior Manager, AU/AFCFTA Relations and Trade Policy, African Export-Import Bank Mr Babajide Sodipo and the Keynote Speaker His Excellency Thami Mseleku, the High Commissioner of South Africa to Nigeria, selected participants and members of the public in attendance.

It was a 3 month program that had intensive live masterclass facilitated by global experts and leaders in various aspects of business who brought to class experience and mastery.

The participants learned from facilitators from Africa, America, and Europe who covered fifteen (15) broad topics, which was followed by mentorship and business advisory sessions with experienced mentors and experts in various business sectors.

Expected outcomes of the program include: Increase in the number of properly structured businesses, rise in international business partnership deals between young entrepreneurs to promote Intra-Africa trade, emergence of new breed of global entrepreneurs in Africa, creation of more job opportunities for Africa youths. Beneficiaries of the program have been equipped with skills and knowledge needed to beyond build globally competitive businesses, record higher trade volumes, position, and expand their businesses to take advantage of the AfCFTA and contribute to economic development of Africa.

The immediate impact of the program can be seen from the participant’s testimonials about the program:

“This program is top notch. It went beyond my imagination. I applied SWOT techniques to strategise my business which really helped out these 3 months”.  Amina Onawo Mohammed, CEO Unique shis Green Products Ltd, Nigeria

“Before I joined this program, my ideas were not structured and I was blind to the possibilities out there and how I could benefit from ACFTA. This program has introduced the idea of networking and the importance of having a clearly defined strategy and branding”. Robert Chikuse, CEO Rowdach Enterprise, Malawi

“The program is an important step towards opening up African opportunities.  Expanding the youths engagement in the International Trade and exports market”. Kevin Maino, CEO Regime CONSULTIUM ENTERPRISE, Kenya

“I want to deeply say thank you to Grand Africa Initiative-GAIN and AFREXIMBANK  for this and life transforming Masterclass, I have learnt a lot from both the sessions as an Entrepreneur and I have been equipped with the relevant knowledge and information to excel in my business world. The class and mentorship sessions by GAIN professional mentors and other industry experts is highly commendable. The communication of the GAIN teams is also top-notch, And I recommend this Entrepreneurship Masterclass to other people. All thanks to Ms. Chinwe Okoli, God bless GAIN and team, God bless AFREXIMBANK”. Godswill Nnabugwu Alegu, CEO GOLDEN PRIMEGA ENTERPRISES NIG. SERVICES, Nigeria

“To be part of this program was needed in a time like this. I need to be challenged and see that my business is not about my small country. It opened my eyes to more African countries,more opportunities.It showed me mentors and business I can learn from”.  Gaëlla Abizera Gahama, CEO Gaaga Hair and Makeup, Burundi

“The GAIN-Afreximbank Masterclass is what every African entrepreneur needs”.  Augustine Sensie Bangura, CEO Sierra Agri foods, Sierra Leone

“This program is mind blowing and it has widened my knowledge on marketing and the facilitators were professionals”. Musisi Clement Isaiah, CEO Moruta Investment Co. Ltd, South Sudan

“I gleaned and absorbed so much from the program. I am ready to elevate my business and best prepared for trading in Africa ”. Sandiswa Mgolozeli, CEO Epitomely Interior Doctors, South Africa

“It has really been value packed as it expanded my boundary of thoughts to seeing possibilities”. Markus Matthew, CEO Macfeshi Technologies, Nigeria

“This training is extremely relevant for the African SME, it shifts one’s mindset from business for daily survival to lasting legacy”. Mkhudzo Hamoonga, CEO Nobility Accounting & Advisory, Zambia

“GAIN-AfreximBank, thank you for the opportunity to network and learn. The lessons were quite amazing. GAIN went all out to find key industry leaders and speakers who shared so much needed information, which is very impactful in my business operation. This has indeed been an amazing experience. I am confident that through the tools shared, my business will grow”. Mosebetsi Rapitso, CEO Iconics Pty Ltd, Lesotho

“I can say I have gained more than what I have expected from this training. Overall the training was so good that I have decided to suggest others to participate in similar future training organized by GAIN-AFREXIMBANK”. Tihtina  Belamo, CEO TABOR CERAMIC, Ethiopia

“I have learned beyond what I expected. I have taken several master classes and GAIN-AFREXIMBANK master class is the best so far”. Ngwain Sih Elisabet, CEO Phoenix revival association, Cameroon

“During the course of this training, I have been able to generate more streams of income by expanding my business. This training surpassed my expectations”.  Letsogile Serojane, CEO Magmr Holdings, Botswana

“Before I joined I had no mode of my business, I was just doing business just to keep myself busy and know that I’m doing business but after my masterclass it’s when I’m really a business woman. Now I see my sales getting into the numbers that I never expected, African Entrepreneurs need a masterclass such as this”. Jacqueline Kawishe, CEO BARRON GROUP OF COMPANIES, Tanzania

The role of youth entrepreneurs cannot be overemphasized in unlocking the economic potentials of Africa and building a  strong economy in Africa and the world at large, hence, GAIN is focused on promoting youth development for empowerment by continually designing programs aimed on building the capacity and igniting the positive energy of the greater segment of Africa’s population – the youth.

This pan-African summit had Prof Benedict  O. Oramah, The President and Chairman, Board of Directors, African Export-Import Bank, Egypt  as the keynote Speaker who was ably represented by The Afreximbank’s Regional Chief Operating Officer-Anglophone West Africa, Mr. Eric Monchu Intong. Guest Speakers at the summit include the High Commissioner of Namibia to Nigeria, H.E Mr Humphrey Geiseb; Ambassador of Cote D’ivoire to Nigeria Mr Kalilou TRAORE; Dr Tony Elumelu, Ag. Director of Private Sector Development at the ECOWAS Commission, Nigeria; Caroline Njuki, Officer in Charge and Chief Technical Advisor Inclusive Jobs and Education, International Labour Organisation, Kenya; Mr Eric Nges, Vice President, J.P Morgan, Germany; Mr Obinna Iyiegbu (Obi Cubana), the Chairman and CEO, Cubana Group; Mr Sam Itodo, Executive Director, YIAGA Africa, Nigeria; Mr Ehia Erhaboh, Executive Vice President, Operations and Technology, Interswitch Group, Nigeria; Mr Emmanuel Asika; Country Manager- HP Nigeria; Omni Channel Manager-HP ACE, Princess Adeyinka, Founder Happy Coffee, Nigeria; Rapitso Motsebesi, CEO Iconics Pty, Lesotho. Key partners for this year’s summit include the ECOWAS Commission and Embassy of the Republic of Guinea in Nigeria.

The summit attracted over 3000 participants from 62 countries across the world.

The theme of the summit was “The Africa We Want: Nexus Between the Youth, Peace and Entrepreneurship II”

In his Keynote Address, Prof Benedict Oramah, the President and Chairman, Board of Directors, African Export-Import Bank, Egypt congratulates GAIN on the excellent work it is doing, especially with regards to entrepreneurship development and youth employment in Africa.

The Afreximbank Boss called for the prioritization of developmental programmes that facilitates youth integration into trade value chains by both public and private sector players as the solution to the problem of youth unemployment on the continent.

He made this call while delivering the keynote speech at the summit. Prof. Oramah emphasized that youth entrepreneurship and innovation are pivotal to the continent’s economic transformation and so young people should be fully empowered and equipped with the tools to provide solutions to the challenges on the continent.

Oramah stated that “To maximize the AfCFTA’s benefits, and to exploit other opportunities in global value chains, Africa’s youth must be fully empowered to participate in cross border trade. It is especially important that young people are given the tools they need to express themselves as entrepreneurs and equipped to innovate solutions to the continent’s raft of socio-economic issues. We must also ensure that youth perspectives are represented at all levels of the policy formulation process”

“It is therefore necessary for both public and private sector players to prioritize the development of targeted programmes that facilitate youth integration into trade value chains. Afreximbank, in playing its part, is committed to addressing the financing, technical capacity and market access limitations that currently impede the expansion of youth-led trade in Africa”

“Harnessing African youth and positioning this demographic as an engine for economic growth is the collective effort of all, therefore, we must rise to the challenge and ensure that Africa actualizes the potential that this constituency holds with regards to the development of our beloved continent”.

In her opening speech, Chinwe Okoli, the Executive Director of GAIN, stated that there is a need to understand the current situation of Africa as it provides the baseline for creating the Africa we truly want. Speaking on the impact of the summit so far, she stated that “over the past three years, the GAIN Youth Summit has deepened the discourse and contributed to shaping policies around strategies to unleash the economic potentials of young Africans to build sustainable prosperity on the continent.

“Learning from the previous summit resulted in the launch of GAIN Entrepreneurship Masterclass in 2021”.

She emphasized that GAIN believes strongly that the pace of development of Africa depends on the rate of youth development and how GAIN in strong partnership with her partners have trained and empowered young African Entrepreneurs and continues to do so.

“In partnership with the Development Bank of Nigeria for instance, we have trained young women entrepreneurs selected from the six geographical regions of Nigeria. And in partnership with Afreximbank, we have also trained young Africans from 29 African countries within 2022 alone and GAIN will continue to design and implement interventions in response to critical issues that impact the youth in Africa”.

Delivering His goodwill message, the High Commissioner of Namibia to Nigeria, His Excellency Mr Humphrey Geiseb, commended Grand Africa Initiative(GAIN) for its work in bringing opportunities for business to African Youth.

In his words “Youth represent a rapidly growing segment of our population. It is important to provide an enabling environment particularly peace and political stability to position the youth to

play a meaningful role. Africa needs to mainstream the presence of young peoples’ voices and recognize their engagement and contributions”.

“Adequate development that involves the youth is needed to ensure that young people utilize their knowledge, youthful energy and resourcefulness to transform Africa’s raw material into

value added products. Youth innovation through entrepreneurship can indeed play a vital role to develop our continent”.

He highlighted the need for African youths to continue to deepen unity and cooperation across the continent on youth matters and that GAIN Youth Summit is an important platform  to emphasize the potentials of  youths as partners in economic development and as key players in finding solutions to enable the youth to overcome the devastating impact of the pandemic”

His Excellency Ambassador Kalilou TRAORE, Ambassador of Cote d’Ivoire to Nigeria and ECOWAS while responding to the question on how leadership can steer the continent and countries therein in the right direction as a panelist on the day 1 of the summit said “Governance and leadership in Africa is about a clear vision and challenges we have to overcome to achieve our aspirations, So, we need leaders with transformational  capacities to make it happen”.

Mr Eric Nges in his response to a question on the kinds of leadership needed to propel Africa’s development, said “Africa is rich in natural resources and a resilient population. He identified three(3) types of leaders which includes: Visionary/Imaginative leaders, Inspirational leaders and  Aspirational leaders” emphasizing the need for good leadership in Africa to drive the transformation on the continent.

Speaking on the panel topic Unlocking the potentials in Africa: The Leadership Question, the Executive Director, YIAGA Africa, Nigeria, Sam Itodo says leadership questions cannot be overlooked if Africa is going to achieve the 2063 goals; leadership is about taking responsibility and Africa needs leaders who will be proactive in taking responsibilities, leaders that care about generational equity, care about the future, care about the youths and also leaders who know when to leave the stage”.

He emphasized that young people are not asking the right questions and are not prepared enough to take over leadership roles in the continent. He enjoined Africa youths to widen their horizon and build alliances across nations and ages.

Dr Tony Elumelu, Ag. Director of Private Sector Development at the ECOWAS Commission, speaking on migration and peace said In Africa , migration is our way of life and it is not necessarily a bad thing but rather it depends on how it is handled and the purpose. He implored African governments to create a good environment for people to stay and also strong institutions to regulate mobility to ensure safety thereby giving Africans a ray of hope and reasons to stay rather than leave the continent.

Caroline Njuki, Officer in Charge and Chief Technical Advisor Inclusive Jobs and Education, International Labour Organisation, Kenya, speaking on the same topic stated that “research has shown that people will migrate to where they find resources to sustain their livelihood. Africa is blessed with talents and supporting people with brilliant ideas to birth those ideas will undoubtedly transform the continent for the better”. It is high time African governments tackled the challenges in retaining talent in Africa as she  identified access to capital for MSMEs as the biggest challenge.

Ehia Erhaboh, Executive Vice President, Operations and Technology, Interswitch Group, Nigeria speaking on the topic: The Imperative of Youth Entrepreneurship in Building Africa, said that “A lot is dependent on African youths to make sure to leave a better version of this present Africa. Youths should be problem solvers: constantly looking for opportunities to solve problems in their environment, Africa Youths should not wait to see things happen but they should make things happen.  The Africa we want is in the hands of the youth especially youth entrepreneurs and as such youth entrepreneurship should be highly promoted by government and leaders in the continent”.

In his contribution, the Chairman, Cubana Group, Obinna Tochukwu Iyiegbu stated that nobody can develop Africa apart from Africans and Entrepreneurship needs to be at the core of the efforts to transform Africa at various levels. He admonished Africa youths to focus less on the negatives rather focus more on what can be done right.

“Building the Africa we want involves leveraging technology and innovation. African Government and leaders need to factor in youth participation and promote their involvement in the technology sector”. These were the words of Emmanuel Asika; Country Manager- HP Nigeria; Omni Channel Manager-HP ACE while speaking at the panel session on day 2 of the summit. He emphasized that successful entrepreneurs  need to understand the importance of technology and innovation. He proposed that youth entrepreneurs should be educated on digital literacy and its importance to establishing a successful business and government and leaders should develop schemes and also promote digital inclusion in the continent.

Sharing their inspiring bold action as young African Entrepreneurs, Princess Adeyinka Tenekah, founder of one of Nigeria’s premier indigenous coffee franchises, Happy Coffee, shared her drive for building her business and creating a niche for herself in the agricultural sector.

Rapitso Mosebetsi, a Lesotho born entrepreneur and social business innovator, Co-Founder & CEO Iconics Pty Ltd, also shared his experience in building a business in the fashion sector. His business was hailed ‘Most Innovative & Versatile Exporter in 2022’ by the Lesotho National Development Corporation, USAID Trade Hub Southern Africa, and Lesotho Post Bank.

They both enjoined Africa youths to back up their dreams with actions and to see every problem as an opportunity to contribute to the development of Africa.

Grand Africa Initiative (GAIN) is a youth-focused pan-African non-governmental organization championing youth empowerment for development across Africa.  GAIN is set up to help young Africans between 15 and 35 years old drawn from within and outside the continent, who are passionate about promoting entrepreneurship as a means to reduce conflict, promote peace and economic revival of the continent. GAIN programs include training, advocacy, mentorship, and youth events, designed to help achieve sustainable development by igniting the positive energy of the greater segment of Africa’s population – the youth.

The course is designed to equip selected young women entrepreneurs from across the country with entrepreneurial knowledge and skills to build and scale their businesses. The training will cover areas critical to the success of MSMEs including ideation, legal services, branding, marketing, communication, accounting, modeling, staffing, structure, etc.

Describing the significance of the Women Entrepreneurship Masterclass, The Managing Director, DBN, Dr. Tony Okpanachi said “We are excited about this initiative which speaks directly to our mandate of building the capacity of MSMEs. The GAIN initiative has become imperative to reach as many women as possible by leveraging technology and promoting gender equality. At the end of this exercise, we hope to see more empowered women creating opportunities towards achieving sustainable social-economic development.” 

On her part, the Executive Director of GAIN, Ms. Chinwe Okoli, stated that “It has become imperative to specifically support women to embrace entrepreneurship. This training will equip them with the skills to succeed at building businesses that will empower them economically, create employment, and contribute to the economic development of Nigeria”.

According to Ms. Okoli, “this program is in line with one of the focus areas of Grand Africa Initiative-GAIN which is Women Empowerment. She said the program is targeted at selected women from across Nigeria who will benefit from a faculty of experts in various aspects of the business. Eligible for the program are women who have a business or a business idea, are between 22 to 45 years of age, and have a demonstrable interest in business, access to the internet, internet-enabled device, and electricity to participate in the program. GAIN Entrepreneurship Masterclass for Women (Nigeria)’ is scheduled to open a call for application on July 6, 2022. The six-week program will include training and mentorship sessions which will be held virtually”.

How to apply:

Application link is available here (www.grandafrica.org) or use this link (www.bit.ly/GAINDBN)

At this stage, they have the capacity and tenacity to pursue their dreams and attain great heights, however, guidance is important to how this creativity is unlocked. In Africa, young people face a number of challenges, including high levels of youth unemployment.

Youth unemployment inhibits sustained economic growth and development especially in developing countries. In the report on “Global Employment Trends for Youth” by the  International Labor Organization (ILO) published in 2015,  over 169 million working young people earn less than US$2 per day in developing countries. Africa’s youth population is the youngest in the world and is expected to double within the next decade. This will pose a major problem in Africa if nothing drastic is done to tackle the high unemployment rate and its dire consequences.

The African Development Bank (AfDB, ) in its report, Jobs for the Youth in Africa(2016), predicted that 263 million young people will lack an economic stake in the system by 2025. The World Bank in its April 2022 “Update on Global Poverty and Inequality Platform” states that sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 61.3% of the global poor population, that is, those that live on $1.90 per day.

Youth unemployment has contributed immensely to a rise in poverty, terrorism, insecurity, banditry, kidnappings, political thuggery, civil unrest, cyber-crime and many social vices we witness in Africa today. These challenges slow the pace of development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals on the continent.

Entrepreneurship has been shown to be the only sustainable path to resolving this situation. Young people in Africa mostly operate within the micro to small business space and Entrepreneurship provides young people with the necessary skills and experiences to thrive economically and contribute to development of the continent.

However, to achieve this noble continental goal, they need to be groomed to acquire entrepreneurship skills to build and most importantly to scale their businesses across Africa, taking advantage of the consolidated over one-billion-persons market and beyond. 

This is exactly the objective of the GAIN Entrepreneurship Masterclass by Grand Africa Initiative (GAIN).

This Masterclass, now in its second year, has been able to reach young Africans in thirteen countries. To ensure an all- round practical entrepreneurship training, the 2021 edition focused on business ideation, design thinking, business modeling, pitching, business finance, investment, forecast, leadership, communication marketing etc and had facilitators drawn from across the globe. Partners included ExxonMobil, TYSYS Capital Group, Country Hill Attorneys & Solicitors, Vurin Group, Strickland Services Limited, Nextzon Limited and Weltek Limited.

The success of this novel approach is already on display. Over the past six months, we have received testimonials on how the program has impacted the businesses of the pioneer participants.

With feedback ranging from clarity of ideas, ideas conception, boosted confidence, actual startups, expansion, more revenue etc. It has been a harvest of positive testimonials from almost 95% of the pool.

One other critical component of the GAIN Entrepreneurship Masterclass was the “tool box” support provided by collaborating partners to the participants by way of IT starterpacks and/or business grants.

Clearly, with the high level of  youth unemployment and underemployment, Africa is on the verge of a major developmental crises, the effects are already here with us-banditary, illegal migration, political thuggery, and terrorism.

Prior to now, African youths who do not have the privilege of attending high-brow business schools on the continent and abroad have largely struggled, leading to a very high mortality rate of micro to small businesses led by young Africans.

GAIN identified this gap and launched the GAIN Entrepreneurship Masterclass solving the twin problems of lack of entrepreneurship knowledge and business support grant.

The program is already showing a lot of promise and is growing into a major continent-wide pipeline for churning out properly groomed young African Entrepreneurs.

Grand Africa Initiative – GAIN is a pan-African non-governmental organization empowering the youth for success in education, employment, entrepreneurship and innovation through capacity building programs, mentorship and high-level annual youth summits.

With her fast-growing network of forward-thinking youths across Africa, GAIN’s programs are designed to empower and develop the youths.

GAIN also partners with well-meaning individuals and organizations who share the same goals and objectives.