ABIA YOUTH EMPOWERMENT: ABSSAA BOSS URGES YOUTH-FRIENDLY LOANS TO BOOST START-UPS
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Abia State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency (ABSSAA), Hon. Victoria Dibunma Onwubiko, has urged microfinance institutions to design loan packages tailored to the unique challenges faced by young start-ups, in a bold call to action aimed at accelerating youth entrepreneurship in Abia State.
Speaking at the recently concluded Abia Youth Summit held at JAAC Building, Ogurube Layout, Umuahia, Hon. Onwubiko emphasized the need for accessible financial support for young people with innovative business ideas but limited collateral or financial history.
Themed “Repositioning Abia Youth for a Sustainable New Abia Project”, the summit brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and young people from the 17 Local Government Areas of Abia State.
“Start-ups driven by young people often lack the balance sheets and track records traditional banks require,” Hon. Onwubiko said during a panel discussion. “We must shift to youth-friendly financial models that recognize ideas and passion as valid forms of collateral.”
She also advocated for mentorship programs led by successful business leaders and professionals to support young entrepreneurs through the early stages of their ventures. “With the right guidance and hand-holding, more of our youth will scale the hurdles of start-up challenges,” she stated.
According to her, the government is laying a strong foundation through ongoing infrastructural development and skills acquisition initiatives aimed at improving youth livelihoods. She encouraged participants to become “worthy ambassadors of Abia State,” emphasizing that the onus of sustaining development rests with the younger generation.
“Our state is undergoing a transformation,” she noted. “While the government plays its role, it is you, the youth who will sustain and multiply this progress.”
In his opening address, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Sir Nwaobilor Nwandinma Ananaba, urged youths to think creatively and leverage the various empowerment opportunities provided by the government. Programmes like Tech Rise, garment production training, agricultural development, digital skills acquisition in Isiala Ngwa North LGA, and entrepreneurship training were highlighted as critical tools for youth advancement.
He assured participants of Governor Alex Otti’s continued commitment to youth empowerment, describing him as “a youth-friendly leader ready to support the dreams of Abia’s next generation.”
The event underscores a significant policy and advocacy shift toward inclusive economic growth in Abia State by investing in youth entrepreneurship. The summit’s outcomes hint at a progressive future where financial systems are designed to accommodate innovation, rather than penalize inexperience, a model that could inspire broader reforms across Nigeria and other developing economies.
The event featured panel discussions, interactive Q&A sessions, and exhibitions, fostering a vibrant exchange of ideas between policymakers, business leaders, law enforcement agencies, and youth participants.
