Winners of YouWin! Connect programme have told the federal government that certificates alone do not create jobs for the youth in Nigeria anymore.
Staging a protest at the Ministry of Finance in Abuja recently, the young winners expressed dissatisfaction over delayed grants for their businesses as promised by the federal government.
One of the winners, who was also the Convener of the protest, Ogheneruese Udoro, said the federal government declared them winners of the programme in 2017 with the promise of grants of N10m and above for their businesses but left them with only certificates after rigorous selection and training processes.
“We applied for the programme due to the grants and not for certificates. Most of us are graduates with many certificates but no jobs. We need the grants to set up our businesses,” he said.
Another winner, who was also a co-convener, Nduonofit Rita, said the federal government cannot renege on its promises for the second phase of the winners of the YouWin Programme, numbering 5000, as the first phase was a success.
She said the present government promised to fund the programme at the inception of this administration and wondered why none of the winners have received any grant.
In a reaction contained in a statement by the Director of Information, Mr. Hassan Dodo, the Ministry of Finance promised to address the grievances of the protesters.
On assuming office, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, reviewed and restructured the YouWin! Programme to YouWin! Connect.
She had promised that funds would be made available to continue with the programme.
