All is set for the next phase of the third edition of the International Breweries Hero’s Foundation Kickstart Programme as the week-long business training and business plan adjudication has come to a close. The next phase of the edition which is the awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on the December 18, 2018, and will see a select number of trainees receive business grants to start-up or expand their businesses.
Over 80 of the 120 shortlisted candidates culled from applications received from youths living in the 10 participating states attended the business training. They received rigorous training and gained much-needed lessons from topics such as Rudimentary Business Operations, Transformational Leadership in Business as well as How to Write A Winning Business Proposal during the business training held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Business School, Awka. These selected candidates were trained by a diverse team of professionals including Professor Alex Ikeme.
Despite expressing mild feelings of sadness at having the training come to an end, the participants were excited at the prospect of winning a business grant and showed their gratitude to International Breweries for the privilege to learn invaluable skills from certified business experts and professionals.
Chikwelu Odenigbo, a trainee said “The business training was awesome, the whole event was well-planned, and the facilitators such as Professor Ikeme, Professor Stella Okunna and other experts, gave us their best” He went further to say that the business training has made him a more enlightened entrepreneur. “Right now, I am going back well prepared, and more informed. I am a better entrepreneur. The things I used to know before, I know them better,” he said.
Sequel to the conclusion of the training, a panel of judges comprising of six distinguished persons led by Professor Chukwuka Osisioma analysed the business proposals submitted by the trainees. They were tasked with judging each proposal based on the strength and sustainability of the business ideas. Other members of the panel includes Tonye Ibisiki, Hule Aondokator, Williams Adadu Ogenyi, Ngozika B. Okoye and Oranu Chris Chidume. Their selections will be revealed at the awards ceremony scheduled to take place on the 4th of December, 2018. The awardees will not only receive business grants but will also enjoy close mentorship for one year.
The Hero’s Foundation Kickstart programme is a Corporate Social Investment (CSI) of International Breweries Plc aimed at instilling a culture of entrepreneurship among Nigerian youths. The programme kicked off in 2016 with the five core eastern states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo but it has since expanded to include Benue, Edo and Delta State. This year, the programme further cast its net to include youths in Bayelsa and Rivers States.
