NB Plc earmarks N12.5m to boost entrepreneurship in South-East

Life Continental Beer, a brand of beverage under the stable of Nigeria Breweries (NB) Plc, said it has earmarked N12.5 million to boost entrepreneurship development in the South-East geo-political zone.
The Marketing Manager, Lager and Stout of NB, Mr Emmanuel Agu, told newsmen in Onitsha, Anambra, that the empowerment programme would run between May and December. Agu made the announcement during a one-day seminar organised for businessmen and women in the South-East, titled: “Life Continental Beer Progress (Entrepreneur) Booster Radio Programme.’’
He said that the programme was meant to empower 50 budding entrepreneurs that had submitted sound and workable business proposals to the brands outlets in the South-East.
Agu also said that the winner with the best adjudged business proposal would be given N250,000 to start his or her business.
He said that the entrepreneur, who would be supervised for three months, will earn additional N250,000 if he/she excels in the practicability of the business. Agu said that the winner would be announced weekly through radio programme on the scheme in four regional radio stations in Onitsha, Enugu, Owerri and Aba.
The manager said the business proposal could be on trading, handicraft, small scale manufacturing and provision of social services. According to him, the business venture must be profitable and capable of leveraging entrepreneur out of poverty and an employer of labour. He also said that the criteria for participating included participants must be above 18 years; must come from the South-East and must reside in the South-East.
“The empowerment project, tagged `Progress Booster’, is a radio reality project designed in the manner of global entrepreneurial reality series like The Executive, The Entrepreneur.
“It is where young and aspiring entrepreneurs conceive and present business ideas and projects in a competitive atmosphere to panel of experts, business executives and professionals who will guide them to realise their dreams. Progress Booster will see young and aspiring entrepreneurs, especially from the South East, competing with each other for various prizes as the project will challenge them to draw on their Igbo heritage of doggedness, industry, enterprise and progress as a people.
“This will help them to conceive, package and present business ideas to a selected panel of judges made up of successful business owners, accomplished professionals and academics of Igbo extraction. Winners will emerge at the state levels in each of the five South East states where the project is targeted at. A final and overall winner of the project will emerge at the end of the finals,’’ he said.
He said that the weekly winners will go home with N250,000 to boost their businesses while the most promising business owner will get an additional N250,000 after three months.