‘Fund-Yes’ Attracts More Financial Institution Partners

The organisers of ‘Fund-Yes’, a multifaceted entrepreneurship financing programme designed to assist youth, women entrepreneurs in Nigeria and Africa, has revealed that more financial institutions have shown interest in partnering with them.

‘Fund-Yes’, is a project anchored by Youths Off The Street Initiative (YOTSI), a non-governmental organization (NGO) founded and chaired by Conrade Kennedy Iyere, a renowned humanitarian activist and high-profile social entrepreneur.

Speaking recently, Iyere said the official unveiling of “Fund-Yes” was conducted at Merit House in Abuja by Comrade Kennedth Robinson, who is the National Organizing Secretary of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and also the Spokesperson of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum( SMBLF).

He also said the unveiling of ‘Fund-Yes’ attracted a large gathering of different interest groups comprising youth organizations, cooperative societies, NGOs, CSOs, FBOs, bankers, religious leaders and business organizations.

Iyere, who is a top Philanthropreneur, said he was prompted to create ‘Fund-Yes’ out of the existing urgency to address the worrisome factors of high youth unemployment and extreme household economic poverty in Nigeria, as well as the social and economic security threats that associate with these factors.

“With extreme poverty deepening on a daily basis and the gap of youth unemployment widening on a daily basis, Nigeria is fast drifting towards political collapse, if these factors are not addressed, as a matter of critical social and economic emergency. Nigeria is sitting on a Keg of Gunpowder because angry and frustrated youths will sooner than later hijack the country and push Nigeria to a point of political disintegration.”

Iyere emphasised that ‘Fund-Yes’ will create and provide a flexible platform for youths and women to access business financing for their entrepreneurial ventures, especially those who have business interest in the sectors of agriculture, technology and entertainment.

According to him, ‘Fund-Yes’ will exist and provide a social and economic vehicle for mass employment generation, wealth creation and poverty eradication among youths and women through multisectoral entrepreneurships. As at the time of this publication, top banks including Union Bank, Fidelity Bank, First Bank and United Bank For Africa (UBA) are set to partner with Fund-Yes.”

He stated that two more banks are also willing and ready to join the above list of the partnering banks.

Iyere said that ‘Fund-Yes’ would generate its funds through four key sources and these include Grants, Equity Crowdfunding, Business Loans and Impact Investment.

He explained that the entrepreneurship financing programme would take off with 250,000 beneficiaries and then 750,000, which means a total of One Million Beneficiaries for a start.

“The mass sensitization and mobilization of potential beneficiaries for their registration and recruitment will commence by Monday 20th August, 2023.

“That is the same time the online registration portal shall be made available. Everyone who is registered as a prospective beneficiary will be required to open a personal bank account with one of the above-named banks, which are the “partner banks. Iyere advises youths and women to take advantage of the golden opportunity,” Iyere said.