Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YouWiN!) Business Plan Competition for Nigerians

YouWiN! Business Plan Competition

Competition Subjects: Business plans
Competition Level: All levels
Provider: Federal Government of Nigeria
Country to Study in: Nigeria

Scholarship Description
YouWiN! (Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria) is an innovative business plan competition, by the Federal Government of Nigeria, aimed at job creation by encouraging and supporting aspiring entrepreneurial youth in Nigeria to develop and execute business ideas. Every Nigerian aged 18-40 years that wants to start a business or expand their existing business can participate.

The first round of the competition was awarded in 2011 with 1200 successful businesses. The 2012 (second) round of the entrepreneurial scheme – YouWIN Women, was designed exclusively for female entrepreneurs, age 45 or less.

Introducing YouWin 3!

The 2013 YouWIN Business competition (third edition) will be launched by the president, within the month of August, for both men and women entrepreneurs in Nigeria between ages 18 and 40.

Eligible groups
Citizens of Nigeria.

Participating Institutions
Open to all types of businesses as long it is viable and has a demonstrable capacity to create jobs.

For existing businesses, you must be registered with CAC. For new business ideas, you do not have to be registered with CAC. However, sponsors of new businesses that win awards in this competition will be required to register fully with CAC prior to receiving any award funds.

Scholarship benefits
Award recipients will receive between 1,000,000.00 (One million Naira only), and N10,000,000.00 (ten million Naira only), depending on their business needs.

Method of Application

Step 1: See Who is Eligible to Apply
To be eligible for the Business Plan Competition you must satisfy the following criteria:

• You must be a proven citizen of Nigeria no older than 40 years (proof of identity: International passport/Drivers License/National ID/Voters card required)
• You must have a post-secondary school qualification
• Your proposed business venture must be within the national borders of Nigeria, and with the intention of employing Nigerian citizens.
• Your proposed venture must not entail the production or distribution of weapons, alcoholic beverages, tobacco or/and gambling, or any activities in contradiction with the Nigerian constitution
• You must prepare an innovative business concept summary

You must choose to participate in one award pool. There are 6 regional pools on the basis of geo-political zone as identified by market in which you want to do business.

Step 2: See How to Apply
The next step is your registration. Register here.

You will receive a confirmation email from YouWIN! with all the details you will need to log in. More on how to apply.

Step 3: Complete New Business Application
Once you have successfully registered you need to Log in and click on the New Business Application button on the right hand-side (the link will be visible once the competition is launched in August 2013).

You can save your application form as you go along, and come back to it at any time. Once you are satisfied with your application, you can use the Submit button on the form to send it. You can submit only ONE application.

Step 4 – Keep Informed
After the closing date you will be notified if you have been selected for the next stage of the competition.

PLEASE NOTE!!!

• YouWiN! is an equity contribution to your business. It is therefore NOT A LOAN but a grant.
• Award recipients will be paid according to the needs of the business and specific mile-stones stated in the business plan.
• Award recipients must be registered with CAC before disbursment of funds even though they do not need to be registered to apply. YouWin! will support the registration process.
• Award recipients will opperate accounts using their registered companies with any of the participating commercial banks prior to disbursment.
• Award recipients must sign a grant agreement with the managers of YouWiN!before disbursment of funds.

YouWIN 3! Competition Timeline

When will the next round application begin?
Date will be announced in the dailies and on the website.

The 2013 YouWIN Business competition (third edition) will be launched by the president, within the month of August, for both men and women entrepreneurs in Nigeria between ages 18 and 40.

You can join the discussion on Facebook, Linkedln and Twitter. YouWIN! will also post regular updates on the YouWiN! homepage.

Graduate Assistance Mobil/NNPC Program, 2013

Applications are invited from suitable qualified candidates for enrollment as Trainees in the AKS-NNPC/MPN & KPL/IBM Graduate Assistance Programme (GAP) Phase II.
SPONSORS
The Programme is sponsored by Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (HPN), Operator of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)/MPN Joint Venture in collaboration with Akwa lbom State Government (AKSG) and Knowledge Partners Limited (KPL) business partner to International Business Machines (IBM), as part of its community assistance programmes aimed at boosting capacity building.
Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPN), a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation has a long history or operating in Nigeria.
The company maintains a robust and active community relations programme that impacts its areas of operation.
THE PROGRAMME
This is a non residential training in Information Technology as well as Enterpreneurship skills targeted at unemployed graduates of Akwa Ibom State origin. However, ew opportunities would be given to indigenes of other states of Nigeria.
The programme seeks amongst others to:
Encourage enterprenuership and technology skills among trainees
Reduce unemployment in the State
Provide pool of experienced persons in INCT skills for both public and private sector employers.
The sessions are in abthes of 50 persons each for a period of six months comprising of a 3 month Instructor led training (ILT) and another 3 months on the job training (OTJ) through internship placements with reputable organizations.
Enrolment Requirements
Applicants as Trainees for AKS-NNPC/MPN & KPL/IBM Graduate Assistance Programme (GAP) Phase II must:
Be university or polytechnic graduate (BSc or BA) with a minimum of Second Class Lower Division or HND Lower Credit in any discipline
Have completed NYSC
Be successful in the competitive GAP aptitude test and selection interview conducted later
Be aged between 21 – 35 years
How To Apply
Interested candidates should either:
Submit application letter with hard copy of detailed curriculum vitae indicating cell phone contacts, email addresses and proof of Local Goycrnment Area of Origin in an envelope marked Graduate Assistance Programme addressed to:
Programme Consultant
AKS-NNPC/MPN & KPL/IBM
Graduate Assistance Programme.
VADOC Phase II. Ministry of Science and Technology
84 Obio lmo Street. Uyo.Akwa lbom State
OR
Apply online and attach curriculum vitae to: info@gapng.com
All applications must reach The Programme Consultant not later than 14 days from we date of this publication.
ENQUIRIES
For further enquiries visit their website www.gapng.com .
OR email us at info@gapog.com ;
OR visit the office at above stated address