Over 6, 150 youth from counties ofEmbu, Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties have together received KSh153. 75 million through the second batch of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project, a government program meant to increase youth entrepreneurship and employment.
The fund was given out by the National Treasury at the Kirubia Stadium in Chuka where the beneficiaries were motivated to start businesses that wouldn’t only improve their own living conditions but also generate jobs for the local people.
The National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project is the flagship youth empowerment scheme of the Government which targets vulnerable and marginalized youth in Kenya, a number estimated to exceed 820, 000.
The purpose of the project is to increase the employability of the youth, support youth, run businesses, and expand economic opportunities in line with the Government’s Bottom, Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
During the occasion a Government spokesperson reiterated that it’s the youths who will lead the economic transformation that’s at the bottom level. She/He added that the Youth Project has given an opportunity to thousands of youth who were otherwise out of work.
They pointed out that investing in youth enterprises is important because it addresses the problem of unemployment, lowers the incidence of poverty and boosts local economic growth.
Government officials advised the youth to use the provided capital wisely, to invest in enterprises that can survive in the market and at the same time become job providers instead of the youth themselves looking for a job.
The gathering attracted senior national and county government officials like Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, Principal Secretaries Betsy Njagi and Patrick Kilemi, Tharakinaithi Deputy Governor Moses Nyaga, senator of Embu, Alexander Mundigi, MP of Chuka Igambang’ombe, Patrick Munene, MP of Buuri, Mugabi Rindikiri, nominated MP Muthoni, members of the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO), Members of the County Assembly, senior officers and a representative group of local leaders among others.
The Ministry through Nyota Youth Scheme will further continue with its rollout at different locations to uplift the youth through entrepreneurialism, skills development and other employment avenues Because of this speeding up inclusive economic growth.
