The Future Project in collaboration with Microsoft Nigeria today announced the call for application for accelerate the Economy through Youth in Enterprise (Accelerate LABS).
Accelerate LABS is the activation of Small and Medium Scale Business Engines to accelerate economic development through enterprise development and technology. Through this intervention, the initiative will equip 2,160 youth across the six geo-political zones in the country to build socially inclined, high profit, and highly competitive enterprise capable of impacting the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.
“Microsoft, through our YouthSpark initiative seeks to empower the youth population of Nigeria to imagine and realize their full potential by connecting them with greater opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship, helping them create a real impact for a better tomorrow,” said Olusola Amusan, Citizenship Lead, Microsoft Nigeria.
“We are delighted about this partnership with Microsoft Nigeria, it will serve as part of our mission to build a network of empowered citizens through jobs, entrepreneurship, and active citizenship which is in line with the Microsoft YouthSpark mission to increase access for all youth to learn,” said Bukonla
Adebakin, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, The Future Project.
“By the end of one year we would have empowered young people to develop empathy, find clarity of purpose and the needed resources to build socially responsible enterprises in their communities. We will have youth across Nigeria leading the frontiers of change in various disciplines,” she added.
Each geo political zone would be represented by a host state that will serve as a hub to incubate these businesses. Accelerate Labs will be in three streams with each stream running for 3 months. Each stream will include 3 weeks training session, 4 weeks mentoring session, 3 weeks research and practice and a demo day for pitching of business ideas to prospective investors.
The call for applications is now open, and will run from 7th of August to 24th of August, 2017 via this link http://thefutureafrica.com/acceleratelabs/register/
Accelerate Labs is an initiative of The Future Project and its powered by Microsoft Nigeria.
For more information visit http://thefutureafrica.com/acceleratelabs/ or email [email protected]. Follow @tfaafrica on instagram and Twitter. Official hashtag is #TFPAcceleratelabs #Sparkforgrowth.
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About The Future Project
The Future Project has a mandate to build empowered citizens across Africa, through (inclusive) enterprise and (active) citizenship. This focus on Human Capital Development is informed by our value proposition: Africa’s growth needs a generation of young people who are gainfully employed and able to demand and secure better leadership.
Projects include Aiki.ng, an employability portal presented with Microsoft; the Nigeria Symposium for Young & Emerging Leaders, #StartupsAfrica, Intern4Jobs, YMonitor.org presented with National Endowment for Democracy (NED), The Future Enterprise Support Scheme and The Future Awards Africa, described as ‘The Nobel Prize for Young Africans’.
Founded by the Chude Jideonwo and Adebola Williams, TFP is supervised by a Global Board of Advisors drawn from Africa, Europe, North America and the Middle East, including the Coordinating Minister of the Nigerian Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Senior Economic Advisor with the Open Society Foundations, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili; co-founder of ONE, Jamie Drummond and the Chief of Cabinet with theAfrica Development Bank, Anne Kabagambe.
About Red Media Africa
Red Media Africa (www.redmediaafrica.com) is the PR & Empowerment Marketing division under the parent brand, RED. It focuses on using inspiration, empowerment and action to help brands andorganisations connect with their audiences, enhance their bottom-lines, and lead in their industries.
It has 6 major practice areas: Corporate Practice, Technology Practice, SME Practice, Governance Practice, Faith Practice and the International Practice – with work for brands across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa.
It has been recognised with multiple local and international awards including the Gold SABRE Awards for PR Campaigns and the Young Lions PR competition for the next generation of creatives.
