The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been named Best Overall Contributor to the Development of the Nigerian Creative Industry in 2013 by the Creative Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria.
The award which will be conferred on her at the 2013 Creative Industry Awards which comes up on January 25 is in recognition of the Minister’s leadership and contribution to the success of the YOUWIN programme which has supported thousands of youth entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and create jobs for other youths.
The impact of the unique business plan competition which is coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Finance, along with the Ministries of Communications Technology and Youth Development, is confirmed by the fact that the 2400 winners of the first two rounds of the program have created close to 20,000 jobs so far. While acknowledging the progress made in job creation which saw the creation of 1.6 million jobs last year according to the National Bureau of Statistics, Dr Okonjo-Iweala has always stressed that the country needs to work harder to create more jobs for the teeming youth population. Dr Okonjo-Iweala and the British High Commissioner for Nigeria, Dr Andrew Pocock will also at the event which will hold at the British Council Gardens in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will speak on the lessons learnt from Funding Startups and growing companies in Nigeria, while Dr Pocock will speak on British-Nigerian Creative Business Environment. Wale Adenuga of WAPTV was Crowned as Creative Entrepreneur of the year 2011. And Chris Ubosi of Megalectrics owner of the Beat FM, Classic FM and Naija FM was crowned Creative entrepreneur of the year 2012.
The key objectives of this award is to sensitize the Nigerian Creative Sector to the opportunities that abound in Nigeria, while showcasing and rewarding those that have taken the bull by the horn. The Creative Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria is continuing this trend in for 2013 to showcase and celebrate creative entrepreneurs who have set standards in their respective fields.
According to Wale Ewedemi, the Director General of the Creative Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria, the federal government’s support of entrepreneurs can be attested to through its various laudable projects and intervention in this drive. While expressing gratitude for such support he expresses hope that the symbiotic relationship will yield good results as entrepreneurs hold the key to any thriving economy.
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