L-R: Olamide Ajewole, YOE Administrator; Joy Abara, Head Programmes, EnterpriseNGR; Obi Ibekwe, CEO EnterpriseNGR; Iyinoluwa Adunade, Head, Corporate Communications and Branding, EnterpriseNGR at YOE Cohort IV and V graduation ceremony on Thursday.
EnterpriseNGR, Nigeria’s leading advocate for the Financial and Professional Services (FPS) sector, has celebrated the graduation of Cohorts IV and V of its flagship Youth of Enterprise (YOE) Internship Programme Initiative. The event, held on Thursday, 25th September 2025, was themed “Game Changers at Work: Innovate, Disrupt, Lead.”
Since its inception, the YOE programme has empowered over 2,300 Nigerian youth, equipping them with globally relevant skills, workplace readiness, and professional competence to thrive in the evolving world of work.
The graduation ceremony was moderated by Iyinoluwa Adunade, Head, Corporate Communications and Branding, EnterpriseNGR, and featured addresses from notable speakers including Obi Ibekwe, CEO of EnterpriseNGR; Joy Abara, Head, Programmes, EnterpriseNGR; and Tayo Olosunde, Co-Founder/Executive Director, MindtheGapNG, who delivered the keynote speech.
Speaking at the event, Obi Ibekwe, CEO, EnterpriseNGR, said:
“At EnterpriseNGR, we believe that Nigeria’s greatest resource is its people. Through YOE, we are investing in the future of our nation by empowering young Nigerians with the skills, confidence, and resilience to lead in a rapidly changing world. Cohorts IV and V represent the innovation and tenacity that will drive our economy forward.”
In her remarks, Joy Abara, Head, Programmes, EnterpriseNGR, emphasized the transformative impact of the initiative:
“The Youth of Enterprise Internship Programme is more than a training; it is a platform that connects ambition with opportunity. Today’s graduates are equipped not just with knowledge, but with the mindset to innovate, disrupt, and lead in their chosen paths. Their journeys inspire us to keep scaling the Programme’s reach and impact.”
Delivering the keynote address, Tayo Olosunde, Co-Founder/Executive Director, MindtheGapNG, challenged the graduates to take ownership of their future:
“The future of work belongs to those who can reimagine possibilities and create solutions where others see barriers. As Game Changers, your responsibility is not only to participate in the workforce but to shape it; innovate with courage, disrupt with purpose, and lead with integrity.”
The event also featured remarkable feedback from YOE employer partners, who attested to the high quality of talent, professionalism, and workplace readiness demonstrated by the interns. Graduating interns shared inspiring testimonials about their transformative experiences, highlighting how YOE shaped their skills, mindset, and career aspirations.
As part of the celebration, the best-performing groups in Cohorts IV and V were recognised and rewarded for their innovation and creativity deployed to solve problems in their environment, reinforcing YOE’s commitment to excellence, teamwork, and leadership.
The graduating interns had worked in reputable organisations such as Access Bank, CSCS, Chapel Hill Denham, First Ally, Coronation, Investment One Plc, Custodian, PwC Nigeria, Polaris Bank, SaroAfrica International Limited, Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, FBNQuest, among others; a testament to the strong industry partnerships that continue to power the YOE Initiative.
The ceremony celebrated the achievements of the graduating cohorts whose stories of growth and resilience embody the mission of EnterpriseNGR’s Youth of Enterprise initiative: to tackle youth unemployment by bridging skills gaps and preparing young Nigerians for thriving careers.
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