A Pan-African Non-governmental organisation, African Economic Merit Awards (AEMA) has concluded arrangement to sponsor 250 African Entrepreneurs and Youths by way of providing them the required platforms and financial sponsorship from philanthropist and partnering institutions.
The Public Relations Officer, AEMA, Senator Iroegbu who disclosed this recently at the maiden formal unveiling of its World Plaque and Nominees for the 2019 World Summit in Abuja, stated that the selection criteria is going to be talent driven and the application portal is going to be open after the 2019 World Summit/Awards in South Africa.
According to him, “AEMA is an NGO that identify hidden talents of youths at the grassroot level across Africa and further give them the exposure, platforms and financial sponsorship they need for great inventions and innovations by matching them with philanthropists and our partnering institutions.
Speaking to newsmen, the President/ Founder of of AEMA, Mceva Temofe, noted that the organization is so far structured in 17 African countries by working with NGOs that are working genuinely at the grassroot and has structures that align with them.
Temofe who urged Nigerian Youths to tap into the platforms and projects in technology, education, agriculture and health that AEMA is providing through seminars to rehabilitate minds of youths in getting their steps back to work track to building a working economy and society, said the organisation is looking forward for the use of the platform to build a strong economic development in Africa.
” We are structuring these 17 African countries with country directors in putting together programs to help the youths, elders and children at the grassroots tap into our program benefits. We aim to make a difference in Africa as a whole by improving relationships between successful African leaders and the young African entrepreneurs.
“We are also working diligently in linking our in-depth knowledge in economic growth in education, agriculture, technology and health with the needs of our people at the grassroots”, he said.
Also speaking, the Nigerian Youth representative to the United Nations, Mr. Williams Uchemba explained that AEMA is focused on Youths active participation in the African economic development because it believes that the growth of a nation is dependent on its active population of Youths.
According to him, “One of the problems Nigeria is facing is not getting her Youths in active participation. The Bureau of Statistics in 2017 said that 24 million of our population are unemployed youths and remember that 70% of the Nigerian population are Youths. There is need for a paradigm shift if Youths must be relevant and actively involved in this 4th revolution”.
He called on Nigerian Youths to engage in skill acquisition, entrepreneurship and vocation empowerment. “You need to learn that at this time of revolution, you have to start doing something with your hands”, he said.
On his part, the CEO of Red Media Africa, Mr. Adebola Williams stressed that the world has never been as connected as it is now and so the need for Nigeria to be alive to this advancements or risk lagging behind.
Adebola stressed on the need for Nigeria to review it’s educational system. Adding that the 4th revolution is focused on technology, artificial robotics, social media, media and all the tools of technology.
According to him, ” Our current mode of education does not prepare people for the times we are into. We have schools who are not teaching artificial robotics, design thinking, process of invention and innovations. Our young people find it challenging to build and innovative technologies because we are not training them with the mindset of creation and production, but rather of consumption.”
The event had Penalists: Adebola Williams; Co- founder red media, Thembakazi Taki; founder, Taki Gxowa Foundation, S.A, Japhet Omojuwa, Hamzat Lawal; CEO connected development, Williams uchemba and others who discussed on ‘Effect of Youths in the African Economy’ and ‘Africa and China Economic Relationship’, and other African entrepreneurs in attendance.
