John Alechenu

A nongovernmental organisation, The Unveiling and Rebranding Nigeria Initiative (URNI), has unveiled plans targeted at building the capacity of 30 million Nigerian Youths to become techpreneurs.

Chairman Advisory Committee of URNI, Dr. Vincent Ugochukwu, who spoke to newsmen at the unveiling ceremony, emphasized the core values of the initiative which he said was principally to inculcate the spirit of patriotism and entrepreneurship among Nigerians from a very young age.

He said, “Our vision at URNI is to foster a nation where Nigerians, both at home and abroad, celebrate their heritage and actively contribute to the country’s development.

“URNI will place a major focus on engaging Nigerian youth, recognizing them as the driving force behind national rebranding efforts.”

“We believe that the youth are the heartbeat of this nation. It is their creativity, resilience, and dedication that will drive the future we all want to see.

The group explained  that as part of its strategies to achieve the set objectives, several Tech Hubs & Skill Acquisition Centres are being set up across Nigeria.

Other strategies include: putting in place arrangements to celebrate Nigerias rich and diverse cultural heritage with a view to strengthening the bond of unity as well as provide avenues for successful Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to mentor young persons in technology.

Also speaking at the event, the Assistant Chairman URNI Advisory Committee Mr. Nura Ibrahim Miko said URNI is committed to empowering young Nigerians to take charge of their destiny and lead the charge for positive change.

Similarly, the URNI Programme Coordinator, Mr. Abdulkadir Lawal, described the planned 30-day National Youth Conference by President Bola Tinubu, as a welcome address.

He said it would be an opportunity for young Nigerians to express the views about the country and set an agenda for the leadership on how to move the country forward.

The lead Strategist, Mrs. Obiageri Agubata; and the  Assistant Programme Manager, Mr. Emegha Joshua, also spoke with journalists during the occasion.

A communique issued by the group after its meeting and engagement with the media, read in part: “URNI is also dedicated to ensuring that this movement remains a citizen-driven effort that reflects the voices, hopes, and dreams of all Nigerians.

“Through continued engagement, outreach, and collaboration, URNI will work to make a lasting impact on Nigeria’s future.”

The communique also noted that URNI would convene a meeting of key national stakeholders, policymakers, corporate leaders, community influencers, and citizens committed to national progress when it unveils the project on October 28th, 2024.