By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) — Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has reaffirmed the commitment of the National Assembly to strengthening Nigeria’s legal and institutional framework to enable businesses and entrepreneurship to flourish, describing enterprise development as a critical driver of national growth and economic transformation.
Kalu made the declaration on Thursday in Abuja at the Youth Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (YEEP) 2026 Summit, organised by Activate Success International Foundation in partnership with Flutterwave, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Nestlé Nigeria.
Addressing participants at the summit, the Deputy Speaker said the 10th National Assembly recognises Nigeria’s youthful population as its greatest asset and remains committed to creating an enabling environment for young entrepreneurs to thrive.
According to him, Nigeria’s challenge is not a lack of talent or ambition among its young people but the need to convert their energy, creativity and innovation into sustainable economic opportunities.
“Every generation is confronted with its defining test. For ours, that test is not the absence of talent, nor the scarcity of ideas, nor even the lack of ambition. Our challenge is the transformation of abundant youthful energy into structured opportunity and the conversion of potential into sustainable productivity,” he said.
According to the statement signed by Levinus Nwabughiogu, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Kalu noted that young Nigerians are already making significant impacts across sectors such as finance, logistics, agriculture, education and the creative economy, stressing that government and stakeholders must create structures that make entrepreneurial success a norm rather than an exception.
“As legislators, we remain committed to strengthening the legal and institutional environment that allows enterprise to flourish. As a nation, we must also begin to see entrepreneurship not as an alternative path for the few, but as a central pillar of national development and economic transformation,” he added.
The Deputy Speaker urged young Nigerians to embrace discipline, resilience and purpose in pursuing their aspirations, assuring them that they possess the capacity to compete and excel on the global stage.
“Do not allow your circumstances to define your possibilities. Do not allow fear to delay your actions. Do not allow failure to discourage your persistence. You must believe in yourself and believe that you can achieve your dreams,” he said.
Building on the successes recorded during the 2025 edition of the programme, where over 30 youths received grants of N500,000 each, Kalu announced that 74 beneficiaries would benefit from the same grant scheme this year. He expressed optimism that the number of beneficiaries would increase in future editions, provided recipients utilize the funds effectively.
He also commended Activate Success International Foundation and its partners for their commitment to youth empowerment and entrepreneurship development.
Earlier, Founder of Activate Success International Foundation, Mrs. Love Idoko-Uloko, said the country needs a generation prepared to build solutions rather than wait for rescue.
Speaking on the summit’s theme, “Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Courage and Impact,” she said the concepts represent the practical foundations of modern economies and are essential for Nigeria’s future prosperity.
“Nigeria does not require a generation that waits for rescue; it requires a generation prepared to build, solve problems, create value and sustain impact over time,” she said.
Idoko-Uloko noted that the foundation’s 11-year investment in youth development is yielding positive results and reaffirmed its commitment to equipping young Nigerians with the tools needed to succeed in a rapidly changing world.
Also speaking, Flutterwave representative, Olufunmilayo Olaniyi, reiterated the company’s support for youth entrepreneurship, stressing that economic empowerment is about providing access to opportunities, markets and enabling systems.
“At Flutterwave, we believe the best investment goes beyond ideas and is shown in the people bold enough to act on them. Economic empowerment isn’t charity; it is access to the right tools, markets and systems that do not limit ambition,” she said.
As part of the empowerment initiative, organisers presented grants of N500,000 each to 25 young entrepreneurs and distributed five brand-new sewing machines to five young tailors to support the growth of their businesses.
The YEEP 2026 Summit attracted young entrepreneurs, policymakers and development partners who explored practical strategies for scaling youth-led enterprises and integrating them into Nigeria’s broader economic development agenda.
