i31 Young Innovators Trained, Funded By UNDP, Mastercard Foundation In Anambra
Thirty-one young Anambra innovators have been identified, trained and financially supported by the Mastercard Foundation in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through its Young Africa Innovates Programme platform.
Speaking at the event, which featured a series of presentations on innovative projects developed by the thirty-one young innovators, the Project Manager, Young Africa Innovates Programme of UNDP, Lady Ifeyinwa Egwaoje, said that the thirty-one were selected to be trained in the state out of the initial one thousand three hundred applicants, and explained that the Young Africa Innovates Programme is a partnership between the Mastercard Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme aimed at discovering, building and providing opportunities for young marginalized innovators who are eager to solve societal problems with the aid of technology.
She reemphasized UNDP’s commitment to helping nations achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities, pointing out that achieving the future everyone dreams of cannot be done through traditional methods alone, as it requires disruption, innovation and the fearless, boundless energy of young people.
On her part, the South East Focal Person for the United Nations Development Programme, Lady Wetalu Okosi, noted that the Young Africa Innovates Programme, which is meant to support youth innovation and build the ecosystem, provides the platform, resources and needed support to enable the young innovators to create change within their communities.
Lady Okosi called for more support from the government in providing an enabling environment where young people will be able to develop solutions, innovate and contribute to the socioeconomic development of their society.
