10,000 Youths, 5,000 Women Benefit as UCLA Expands Entrepreneurship Drive

Ugwumba Initiative Deepens Youth, Women Economic Empowerment Efforts
The Ugwumba Centre for Leadership Development in Africa (UCLA) has intensified its drive to promote economic empowerment, revealing that it has trained and supported more than 10,000 youths and 5,000 women across Nigeria through entrepreneurship development, mentorship and seed capital.

Founder and President of the Centre, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, made the disclosure at the grand finale of the Ugwumba SkillUp 2.0 Project in Abuja, themed “The Future is Entrepreneurial.”
Nwosu explained that the initiative, which began nearly a decade ago, was established to equip young Nigerians with practical entrepreneurial skills and financial support needed to build sustainable businesses. He said the programme complements formal education by preparing participants for today’s competitive economy.
According to him, beneficiaries received training in several vocational and business areas, including wig making, tailoring, food preservation, paint production, mixology and other income-generating ventures.
He disclosed that over 5,000 Nigerians registered for the programme in 2025, with 50 participants receiving seed grants to establish businesses. For the latest edition, he said more than 8,000 people applied, 3,500 participated in the training, while 100 beneficiaries were selected to receive financial support.
“We do not just train them and leave them. We train them and provide seed money to enable them start their businesses,” Nwosu said.
He noted that several products showcased during the exhibition were produced by beneficiaries from previous editions, demonstrating the programme’s lasting impact. He attributed the success of the initiative to the support of individuals, organisations and volunteers who contributed resources and technical expertise.
Nwosu called for stronger collaboration between government and credible non-governmental organisations to ensure empowerment programmes reach grassroots communities. He stressed that organisations with proven capacity should be engaged in identifying, training and supporting beneficiaries for greater impact.
He also advised beneficiaries to treat the grants as business investments rather than spending them on non-essential items.
“This money is not for luxury. It is meant to help them begin their entrepreneurial journey and create sustainable livelihoods,” he added.
Delivering the keynote address, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, Dr. Uju Rochas-Anwuka, encouraged young Nigerians to embrace entrepreneurship and innovation. She urged beneficiaries to make prudent use of the non-refundable ₦250,000 grants, describing the support as a demonstration of confidence in their ability to build successful enterprises.
She also advocated stronger partnerships among government, development partners and the private sector to create more opportunities for young entrepreneurs.
In separate goodwill messages, Chairman of the International Advisory Committee, Rajan Nazran, and Chairman of the Global Advisory Committee for UCLA Projects, Chris Foltz, encouraged participants to remain resilient, seek mentorship and continue developing solutions that would positively impact their communities.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Centre, the Emir of Dass, His Royal Highness Usman Bilyaminu Othman, alongside the Acting Director of the Abuja Enterprise Agency, Dr. Chudi Ugwuada-Ezuruigwe, commended the initiative and urged beneficiaries to uphold innovation, integrity and lifelong learning.
Also speaking, the Director of Programmes, Blessing Kala-Kala, reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to raising a new generation of entrepreneurs and job creators.
Some beneficiaries, including Maureen Cockney and Aneke Kasiemobi, described the programme as life-changing, saying it equipped them with practical skills and startup capital to establish their own businesses and become self-reliant.