APC rolls out Renewed Hope Scale-Up programme, empowers 1,400 Youths, N280m grants

The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has reaffirmed the party’s commitment to youth empowerment and inclusive economic growth with the rollout of the Renewed Hope Scale-Up Programme, which has directly benefited more than 1,400 young Nigerians through equipment distribution and financial grants.

At a well-attended empowerment event in Jos, Plateau State, Professor Yilwatda supervised the distribution of 727 sets of income-generating tools and equipment aimed at strengthening entrepreneurship and boosting small-scale enterprises across key sectors.

The items distributed included 20 tricycles, 33 catering sets, 26 embroidery machines with pressing irons, 172 sewing machines, 75 welding and fabrication toolboxes, 16 dry grinding machines, nine wet grinding machines, 100 auto mechanic tool boxes, 75 carpentry toolboxes, 110 point-of-sale (POS) machines each supported with N100,000 startup capital, 20 make-up toolboxes, and 71 phone repair toolkits complemented with solar panels and cloud power stations.

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In addition to the equipment, the programme disbursed N280 million in structured cash grants. Sixty beneficiaries received N1 million each; 140 individuals were granted N500,000; 300 beneficiaries received N200,000; while 900 recipients got N100,000 each.

The funding, according to organisers, is designed to provide immediate working capital for small and medium-scale enterprises to facilitate business take-off and expansion.

Speaking at the event, Professor Yilwatda described the initiative as a practical expression of the Renewed Hope Agenda’s focus on job creation, poverty reduction, and youth-driven economic development. He noted that sustainable national progress begins with empowering individuals at the grassroots.

Reflecting on previous empowerment efforts, he recalled launching a farmer-support initiative in 2018, which he said continues to deliver measurable outcomes in agricultural productivity and livelihoods.

The APC National Chairman expressed gratitude to Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the opportunity to serve, describing his emergence as National Chairman as an act of divine grace. He pledged to leverage his office to bridge opportunities and ensure inclusive development across communities.

Professor Yilwatda also outlined the administration’s broader economic ambition of building a one-trillion-dollar economy through strategic infrastructure projects. He cited plans for new seaports and airports, expansion of rail networks from Lagos to Kano, and the construction of major road corridors such as the Sokoto–Badagry highway and the Calabar–Lagos coastal road, which he said are designed to enhance trade, unlock productivity, and position Nigeria as a continental economic leader.

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Encouraging beneficiaries to prioritise entrepreneurship, he stressed that small businesses have the potential to evolve into global enterprises.

He assured them of continued institutional support, including access to financing through the Bank of Industry and export development training in partnership with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council to integrate local businesses into international markets.

He further announced plans for a structured monitoring and evaluation framework to track beneficiaries’ progress and identify high performers for additional support through agencies such as the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI).

He also highlighted existing Federal Government tax relief policies aimed at creating a more enabling environment for small businesses.

Representing the Plateau State Governor at the event, Deputy Governor Mrs. Josephine Piyo commended Professor Yilwatda’s intervention, describing it as a demonstration of purposeful leadership and commitment to grassroots development.

She urged beneficiaries to utilise the resources responsibly, emphasising discipline and enterprise as critical to long-term success.

The Renewed Hope Scale-Up Programme, she said, represents a practical step toward building a resilient and youth-driven economy, reinforcing the APC’s pledge to deliver sustainable development nationwide.