NAN-HE-14
Entrepreneurship
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Sept. 21, 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria Rebirth Project (NRP), a Non-Government Youth Oriented Organisation, has earmarked
N200 million seed capital to help four Nigerian youths to establish
a local content-driven company through a reality show.
The National Co-coordinator of the project, Mr Isaac Balami, said
this during the project’s maiden conference with the theme “Activating the Secret Wealth of Nigeria” in Abuja.
Balami said the group had designed the first-ever youth-oriented and national development reality show called “The Labour Room’’ with the aim of repositioning the mind-set of Nigerians anywhere in the world.
He added that the group was interested in developing the local content and creating jobs directly and indirectly through conscious effort to bring 37 young Nigerians together as housemates for 60 days.
According to him, final four housemates will emerge as winners of the Labour Room and will be funded with the N200 million seed capital to build the company.
“The seed funding will be used to secure the future of both the contestants and that of their future employees and will be allocated via shares, with the first-place winner allocated the largest share.
“This will be an indigenous business, employing and empowering Nigerians with items made in Nigeria for Nigerians.
“An advisory board of experienced and competent Nigerians has been set up to oversee the activities and progress of the company to ensure maximum utilisation of the resources and effective results.’’
Balami said the company that would be created would be co-owned by the four winning house mates, who would then be trained and coached to ensure its sustainability and productivity.
He explained that the organisation was in talks with private, national and multinational companies on providing employment slots for registered contestants at the end of the show.
The national coordinator said the viewership of the show was predicted
at over 60 million internationally, including national leaders, government officials, captains of industry and key players in national development.
He explained that the show would be viewed across the globe via Africa Magic, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Peoples TV, Ebony Live and a reality TV Channel on DSTV, among others.
The objectives, according to him, include enabling and creating thousands of employment opportunities across the country by empowering the winning housemates with seed capital to build a new business.
“This way, youths will be practically involved in solving national issues,
as well as inspiring the true spirit of patriotism in Nigeria to support government’s effort in creating a new social culture.
“The show will also promote, encourage, push local content, showcase and infuse cultural differences and eventually provide a nationalistic outlook by further showing the strength of each state through its resources and people.
“It will support the growth of entrepreneurship in Nigeria and build strong leadership qualities in the house mates and in the minds of the African viewers.
“It will define and create a blueprint that will move to correct the ills in the economy and develop healthy systems for Nigerian society.’’
Balami said that Nigeria Rebirth Project was an initiative of passionate Nigerians from all walks of life with a collective and dedicated aim to restructure the deep yearnings for an enabling framework.
He explained that the initiative was borne out of strong passion for a brand new and a better Nigeria with the mission to rebuild it through intelligent, innovative and sustainable project.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event featured the
unveiling of the group’s projects such as the Labour Room, Africa Rebirth Television, custodian and pillars of the nation awards. (NAN)
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(Edited by Morayo.Omolade/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)