YOUWIN AND THE NIGERIAN WOMAN

We have been so excited inviting women to apply for Youwin.Yes 1-10 million can really change the lives of the lucky winners and create jobs.The problem with youwin is that it is not for the ordinary woman on the street who has no idea what a business plan is,cannot access the internet and cannot write a concept note.This woman is marginalised by poor quality education and access to the 50bn the FGN set aside for youwin.Govt cant be everywhere and do everything.That woman on the street im talking about needs just 5000, 10,000 , 20,000 ,50,000 or a 100,000 Naira to improve her life and that of her family.If we are talking about training it will take very little to train these women,we dont have to gather them in one venue we can do the training by radio.Th...

e most important thing we need are the funds. If communities can send children to school by contributing money we can do the same for women to set up businesses.I emphasize on women because it is a notorious fact that the womens business better sustains the primary and necessary needs of the family.The sucesses recorded by Muhammad Yunus of the Grameen bank in Asia is an example. If Nigerians can become one of the highest customers of the private jet industry buying over 130 new private jets between 2007 and 2012 on an average of $50million per jet we have no business being poor as a nation.Nigeria as a nation is rich but the normal citizens are poor.Nigerias wealth lies in the hands of Government officials ,politicians and their cronies.Whatever they do God doesnt sleep and He is all seeing.My grouse is what you and i are doing to build others.Seven years ago a woman asked me for 500 Naira as an investment to start selling firewood i gave her a thousand and she returned two years after to say thank you and tell me she has built on that.Most people trade blindly or set up businesses dumbly.Lets give them basic training the way SMEDAN is doing as we give them the loans,lets borrow a leaf from youwin minus the complex "turanci";Set up small business idea competitions pick out the feasible ones,mentor others to make the ideas suceed let the community or different tribal associations,neighbourhood associations,religious groups fund these initiatives.Pressure the rich men in your locality to subscribe and fund the programs.Identify people with promise;is it the kosai seller on your road ?What would she need to graduate to providing kosai,kunu,waina,moin-moin,chips and plantain for breakfast .Her small kosai corner can turn into your neighbourhoods breakfast corner with just a 2 hour lecture and less than 20,000 Naira.The possibilities are endless.Monitoring and training,will provide the necessary security to avoid diversion of funds."