Oando Foundation empowers top 10 GYUP graduands with N20m

…holds Green Youth Upskilling Programme’s first cohort graduation

In a bold move to support youth-driven innovation, the Oando Foundation has empowered the top 10 graduands of its Green Youth Upskilling Programme (GYUP) first cohort with N20 million in seed funding to scale their ideas and impact.

The 10 recipients were adjudged the best out of the 25 that qualified for the flagship of the GYUP, aimed at equipping young Nigerians with sustainable and future-ready skills in technical and entrepreneurial expertise.

Tonia Uduimoh, head of Oando Foundation, in her address during the graduation ceremony held on Friday, said, “When we thought about curating a programme that was youth-focused, one that was targeted at a budding sector of the economy that we knew had a lot of promise and that we knew that if we empowered youth in, it would be an opportunity for them to make a decent livelihood and even for some of them to become employers of labour.”

Uduimoh explained that, although education is our core and the foundation, they also realised that it is not just foundational learning or academics that constitute education.

“Whatever you do to empower people and make them better than they were before is a form of education.
“In this case, we’re providing real skills, practical skills that the beneficiaries, in addition to whatever skills they may have acquired previously, are able to work to become more empowered, to become individuals who would look back and say, I’m glad I was a part of this cohort of the Green Youth Upskilling Programme,” she said.

She expressed her delight that the foundation has the opportunity to set up programmes such as the GYUP that are not only focused on the younger children but now focus on the youth who are a critical part of the population of Nigeria.

Titilayo Oshodi, the special adviser on climate change and circular economy to the governor of Lagos State, in her keynote address, described the first cohort of GYUP as the beginning of a new generation of solution-driven leaders in our green economy.

“Across Lagos, we are witnessing a powerful shift; young people are no longer waiting for opportunities. They are creating them from renewable energy to waste management.

“Innovation is becoming the language of this generation, and I have had conversations. I’ve been in rooms where multinationals, government agencies, entities, and young entities are beginning to look for ways to be able to merge their conversations, actions, and visions together,” she said.

Addressing the graduands, Oshodi emphasised that climate action is no longer a future conversation.

“It is happening now, and it needs your ideas, energy, and courage. Don’t underestimate the value of what you have learned here. “Whether you go on to build your businesses or join organisations, you are now part of a movement that is shaping a more sustainable Lagos,” she stressed.

As a government, she said that Lagos State remains committed to creating an environment where green skills, innovation, and enterprise can thrive.

Mobolaji Ogunlende, the Lagos State commissioner for youth and social development, applauded Oando Foundation for the programme and charged the beneficiaries to optimise the opportunities and skills acquired while the training lasted.

“By coming to this programme, I believe something else has been added to the portfolio you have. What that means is that you are better than when you came here. You are now being empowered to go out there to do something,” he stated.

Ogunlende urged the foundation to leverage collaborations with the government in order to get better with its programmes and initiatives.

“We can only give you a platform to thrive on a global scale, and that is why we’re here; and if you want to do anything right, as an organisation, involve the government, and it can only be bigger,” he said.

Oreoluwa Finnih-Awokoya, special adviser on SDGs & Investments to the governor of Lagos State, said the team is driving green skills and opportunities, reflections, impact and that the road ahead is both timely and strategic.

“Through this programme, I believe young Nigerians have been equipped with practical market-ready skills such as renewable energy and waste management, and they have transitioned into internships, hopefully opportunities like employment and enterprise development.

“That’s the kind of impact that we must continue to scale and build as we go forward towards a resilient and inclusive green economy in Lagos State,” she said.

To the beneficiaries, she said that the programme is about them, their journey, and the innovation before joining the programme and the innovation that they will continue to see after joining the programme. “Your aspirations are central to the success that we celebrate today and will celebrate henceforth.

“So you represent the future of the state’s green economy, and your participation in today’s discussion, especially during sessions, will add depth, authenticity, and inspiration to this event,” she emphasised.

Omoh Alokwe, speaking on behalf of the technical partners, said, “When we were approached to be part of the GYUP, we definitely said yes to it, because we believe in this vision.

“We believe in the vision of equipping young Nigerians with the practical skills that are needed to drive change, especially in the hard green economy sector and industry today.”

Alokwe noted that Nigeria’s great economy needs young people like the GYUP graduands because they are skilled, motivated and ready to lead.

“Programmes like GYUP are what we need to build the future,” she said.

The following graduates received the sum of N2 million each and other equipment that will enable them to kick-start their innovations and businesses.

These include Temitope Fakorede, Barnabas Lorsue, Boluwatife Amodu, ⁠Toluwalase Abiona, ⁠Abdulmuiz Edun, ⁠Gbayere Onorena, Yunus Sodiq, Janet Ohakwe, Aishat Ayyub, and Johnpaul Nwaike.