WE WILL SUPPORT YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS TO FULFILL THEIR POTENTIAL - PRESIDENT BUHARI

President Buhari on Friday reiterated his administration’s commitment to supporting young Nigerian entrepreneurs to fulfill their potential. He said this while hosting the winners of the inaugural Aso Villa Demo Day (AVDD) at the State House.

The Aso Villa Demo Day was launched to celebrate and promote entrepreneurship, technological innovation and job creation in Nigeria.

Introducing the winners to the President, Minister of Communications Technology, Barrister Adebayo Shittu said the purpose of the meeting was for the President to identify with the winners and encourage them to even more innovation in the future. The Minister added that the Demo Day will be an annual event.

Also speaking, Vice President Osinbajo said that the thirty finalists “have developed technology that the world will one day pay attention to.” He added that they were selected from over 4,000 applicants submitted entries for the innovation competition.

The three winners for 2016 are Damilola Olokesusi (Co-Founder, Shuttlers NG), Allison Ukonu (Founder, Recycle Points), and Emmanuel Okena (Co-Founder, Tracology).

Shuttlers NG is a platform that encourages professionals in urban areas to use public transportation instead of driving, helping them save costs, and reducing the impact of carbon emissions on the environment.

Recycle Point is a waste management solution that connects young people with opportunities to earn a living collecting and processing urban waste.

Tracology is a barcode system that allows government's and government revenue collectors to know which citizens are paying for utilities – waste management, water, and so on.

The three winners thanked the Federal Government for the opportunity they got, through the Aso Villa Demo Day, to showcase the efforts of their innovation.