A former Director and Coordinator, Independent National Electoral Commission’s Electoral Institute, Dr. Jimoh Agboola, has unveiled plans for a youth empowerment scheme, which will serve as a springboard for the youth to realise their dreams.

Agboola, a businessman, said this in a lecture he delivered at a dinner to celebrate his 70th birthday in Osogbo on Tuesday.

The former INEC boss said crime rate would continue to soar as long as the youth were not engaged in productive ventures, saying this was why he decided to set up the scheme in order to further contribute his quota to the development of the nation.

He added, “Youth unemployment is a problem in the country and I want to set up a scheme where youths, who want to set up any type of business, can come.

“They will be attached to already established organisations in line with their passion where they will be taught the rudiments and be mentored. We will also assist them with anything needed for the take-off.”

Agboola said many prospective entrepreneurs wrongly believed that the most important thing they needed at the point of commencement was the fund to invest in the business.

He said anybody aspiring to start any business needed a good idea and thorough knowledge of such business before injecting capital into it.

He explained that any business where capital was placed before capacity building was bound to fail.

Highlighting the importance of mentors for young entrepreneurs, Agboola said young business owners with good mentors would avoid many pitfalls and would grow faster.

Source