In a continued commitment to youth development and national progress, Keystone Bank recently hosted a Solidarity Dinner in honour of the Federal Government’s Youth Economic Intervention and De-Radicalization Program (YEIDEP).
YEIDEP, an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, is designed to provide funding and capacity-building support for enterprising young Nigerians. At the heart of the programme is a drive to foster innovation, self-reliance, and sustainable job creation among the youth, a mission that aligns strongly with Keystone Bank’s values.
The event, which brought together key stakeholders, government representatives, and youth entrepreneurs, was held to reaffirm the Bank’s unwavering support for the initiative and celebrate the strides being made in empowering young Nigerians.
During the dinner, Ayodele Olawande, The Minister of Youth Development, lauded President Bola Tinubu’s visionary leadership in launching YEIDEP and expressed gratitude to Keystone Bank’s management, led by Hassan Imam, for their support of the program. He emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors to truly unlock the potential of Nigeria’s youth and drive inclusive economic growth. He also praised the Coordinator of YEIDEP, Comrade Iyere, for his genuine concern for young people and his strong sense of patriotism.
Comrade Iyere echoed same sentiments, stressing the need to engage youths in productive activities to reduce crime and promote economic prosperity. He commended Keystone Bank’s pivotal role in driving economic progress and shaping the country’s future through its support of youth-focused initiatives.
Also speaking at the dinner, Nnenna Anyim-Okoro, Executive Director of Corporate Banking and South at Keystone Bank, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to YEIDEP. She announced the establishment of a high-level committee within the bank to drive the program and the launch of a digital platform that enables youths to open and manage YEIDEP accounts seamlessly.
“As a key financial partner of the YEIDEP initiative, Keystone Bank remains dedicated to long-term collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development aimed at implementing the core objectives of YEIDEP and enhancing youth empowerment and financial inclusion.” She said.
Other key officials of Keystone Bank who attended the solidarity dinner included Olayemi Sule, Group Head, Retail and Digital Banking; Obinna Uwadoka, Head General Commerce, CBD; Chinyelu Ogufere, Group Head, Emerging Sectors and Industries; and John Enukorah, Group Head, Private Banking.
The partnership between Keystone Bank and the Ministry of Youth Development highlights the power of strategic collaboration between the private and public sectors. It marks a meaningful step towards unlocking the potential of Nigerian youth and paving the way for a brighter, more prosperous future.
The YEIDEP Solidarity Dinner was not just a celebration, it was a call to action. A call for more institutions to rise to the challenge of youth empowerment and play their part in shaping a more prosperous Nigeria.