The Presidency, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Mara Foundation Enter Partnership to Empower Young Entrepreneurs

AsiaNet 53930

ABUJA, Nigeria, Aug. 13, /PRN=KYODO JBN/ --

    Today, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. Dr. Goodluck

Ebele Jonathan, and Ashish J. Thakkar, founder of Mara Group and Mara

Foundation, jointly announced their partnership to launch Mara Mentor for

supporting young entrepreneurs across Nigeria. The President was represented by

his Special Adviser on Youth Empowerment, Ambassador Obinna Adim. As part of

Nigeria's Integrated Youth Economic Empowerment Program (IYEEP), Mara-IYEEP

Nigeria is the first of its kind and will be a formidable base to empower youth

throughout the country and ultimately provide a solution for youth leadership

and development.

    (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130403/607118-a )

    Mara Mentor is an online and mobile platform targeting young people who

want to start a business. The program is completely free of charge and

available to all entrepreneurs regardless of their position within the business

life cycle, from those only starting out with one brilliant idea to more

established business owners. The platform allows these entrepreneurs to connect

virtually with seasoned business leaders locally and mentors from across the

world for advice and guidance.

    The mentorship program will serve as a provider of non-formal education

aimed at bridging the gap between school and life after school, enhancing young

people's potential for success by making them approach life as entrepreneurs.

Aside from mentoring the youth on the path to entrepreneurial empowerment, the

program further aims to provide comprehensive support services for the youth

through funding assistance for novel business ideas, incubation centers and

workspace, as well as continual business training. Furthermore, the program

exudes special consideration and focus on the empowerment of female youth in

our society.

    These support services are expected to transform entrepreneurs' business

ideas into profitable and thriving business entities that will employ other

Nigerians and contribute to local, state and national economies.

    "We are very excited about the project to bring Mara Mentor to Nigeria.

Mara-IYEEP Nigeria will encourage young entrepreneurs to embrace innovative

ideas, envision the impossible, and ultimately transform Nigeria. We believe

mentorship is the key in addressing the gaps currently preventing these

entrepreneurs from successfully starting, scaling and sustaining businesses,"

says Ashish J. Thakkar, founder of Mara Group and Mara Foundation.

    "The Integrated Youth Economic Empowerment Program (IYEEP) is the Youth

Transformation Initiative of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. The Mara

mentorship platform will be an important part of the overall IYEEP initiative

to economically empower the Nigerian youth through the Mentorship Program and

Launch Pads, which provide incubation centers for SMEs and Solopreneurs who

otherwise would not be able to afford professional office space. The Platform

also matches young entrepreneurs with seasoned business owners and cooperate

leaders one on one. Our vision is to provide the needed platform and mechanism

to transform our youth into (IYEEP) CHANGE MAKERS who can make their

communities a better place, not only for themselves but also for their fellow

Nigerians by spurring wealth creation and raising household incomes across the

country," according to the Special Adviser to the President on Youth

Empowerment, Ambassador Obinna Adim.

    The mentorship platform is currently accessible online, but will shortly be

launched as a mobile application for smartphones with the objective to create a

truly active and connected entrepreneurial community for youth across Nigeria.

    About IYEEP

    IYEEP is a unique grassroots and community aligned youth development

process approach, which focuses on three critical elements that promote

personal leadership: Healthy behaviors,socioeconomic empowerment skills as well

as self and individual communities' sustainability.

    About Mara Foundation

    Mara Foundation is Mara Group's social enterprise that focuses on emerging

African entrepreneurs and working to create sustainable economic and business

development opportunities for young business owners via the Mara Mentoring

Program, Mara Launchpad incubation centers and Mara Launch Fund.

    For more information, please visit: http://www.mara-foundation.org

    Source: Mara Foundation