EnterpriseNGR, a leading champion of Nigeria’s Financial and Professional Services (FPS) sector, recently celebrated a significant achievement with the graduation of its Youth of Enterprise (YOE) Internship Initiative’s Cohorts IV and V.
The ceremony, held on Thursday, September 25, 2025, embraced the theme “Game Changers at Work: Innovate, Disrupt, Lead,” underscoring the organisation’s commitment to addressing Nigeria’s unemployment and underemployment issues by equipping young talents with globally competitive skills, professional readiness, and workplace expertise.
Since launching in 2022, the YOE programme has empowered over 2,300 Nigerian youths, establishing itself as one of the nation’s most influential workforce development platforms.
At the event, EnterpriseNGR’s CEO, Obi Ibekwe, reiterated the organisation’s conviction that Nigeria’s greatest asset lies in its people.
“With YOE, we are nurturing the future by providing young Nigerians with the tools, confidence, and adaptability needed to thrive in an evolving global landscape. Cohorts IV and V exemplify the creativity and determination essential for propelling our economy forward,” she remarked.
Joy Abara, Head of Programmes at EnterpriseNGR, emphasized the initiative’s transformative impact.
“The Youth of Enterprise Internship Programme transcends traditional training; it bridges ambition with real-world opportunities. Graduates today depart not only with knowledge but with a pioneering mindset to innovate, challenge norms, and lead. Their progress motivates us to expand the programme’s reach and deepen its influence,” she explained.
Keynote speaker Tayo Olosunde, Co-Founder and Executive Director of MindtheGapNG, encouraged the graduates to embrace their potential as catalysts for change.
“Tomorrow’s workforce belongs to those who envision new possibilities and craft solutions where others encounter obstacles. Your role extends beyond participation-you are called to innovate boldly, disrupt meaningfully, and lead with unwavering integrity,” he urged.
The event also showcased heartfelt endorsements from YOE’s employer partners, who commended the interns’ professionalism, creativity, and readiness for the workplace. Interns shared personal accounts of growth, highlighting how the programme reshaped their skills, perspectives, and career ambitions.
In recognition of outstanding achievement, top-performing teams from Cohorts IV and V were honoured for their innovative approaches to addressing community challenges, reflecting YOE’s focus on excellence, collaboration, and leadership in action.
Graduates from these cohorts completed internships with some of Nigeria’s most esteemed organisations, including Access Bank, CSCS, Chapel Hill Denham, First Ally, Coronation, Investment One Plc, Custodian, PwC Nigeria, Polaris Bank, SaroAfrica International Limited, Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, and FBNQuest. EnterpriseNGR highlighted that these strategic partnerships are pivotal to the programme’s ongoing success.
Moderated by Iyinoluwa Adunade, Head of Corporate Communications and Branding at EnterpriseNGR, the ceremony attracted key stakeholders who praised the initiative’s vital role in narrowing Nigeria’s skills gap.
Adunade concluded by affirming that the event celebrated not only the accomplishments of Cohorts IV and V but also the overarching vision of the Youth of Enterprise programme: to cultivate a generation of skilled, resilient, and innovative young Nigerians poised to revolutionize the country’s workforce and shape the future of its professional services sector.
