Osinbajo, Okoli Preach Entrepreneurship At 12th Chike Okoli Foundation Gala

Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has called on individuals and corporate bodies to support entrepreneurial training of youths, insisting that it is the best way to pivot the country to greatness.

Osinbajo who was speaking at the 12^th Chike Okoli Foundation Health and Soul Gala held at the Muson Centre, Onikan Lagos stated that the present government realises this which is reason it is investing heavily on various intervention programmes such as the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, GEEP, N-Power and Innovation Hubs.

The Vice President thanked the Chike Okoli Foundation for its contribution to healthy living and entrepreneurship.

He noted that the Foundation has so far trained 5,000 businesses owners and budding entrepreneurs, and that the Foundation has now become a fountain of hope that the nation needs at this time of its development.

On the late Chike Okoli in whose honour the Foundation was set up, the Vice President commended his family for turning the ashes of the tragedy to a monumental phoenix of inspiration.

Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Emzor Pharmaceuticals Limited, Dr Stella Okoli in her speech called on Nigeria to invest in the youths which she noted will steer them away from crimes.

Dr. Okoli who is also the Board Chairman of the foundation stated that with training in entrepreneurship, youths can learn discipline, financial management, good habits and hone innate skills that could also take them and their families out of poverty.

Furthermore, she added that it is because of the importance of this kind of training that the Chike Okoli Foundation has taken it as its core responsibility not only to mould the heart and minds of Nigeria’s next generation but inculcate in them 21^st century skills, techniques and competencies.

According to her, “it was in bid to advance these ideals that the Chike Okoli Centre For Entrepreneurial Studies (COCES) was established at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka in 2011”.

In her opening remarks, Chairman of the occasion which had top Comedian, Ali Baba and Dayo Benjamin-Laniyi as Comperes, Barr. (Mrs.) Uju C. Ifejika, Chairman/CEO, Brittania-U Group harped on the benefits of charity and touching lives.

According to her, government cannot do everything, Nigerians need to rally round and contribute in all ways possible to empower youths.

She also used the opportunity to call on individuals and organisations to support the Chike Foundation which also carries out medical outreach programmes across Nigeria apart from its entrepreneurship engagements.

Established in 2007, the Chike Okoli Foundation aims to foster a healthy and prosperous society by focusing on promoting healthy lifestyle and entrepreneurship among the younger population.