Our Story
The EME foundation was set up to mark 20 years memorial of HRH Eze Mitchell Ezesomaga Egbukole ksc (Ochoronma IV of Egbu Autonomous community).
The aim of EME foundation is to support youth entrepreneurship in Nigeria, with its initial focus on youths in Imo state.
Before his ascension to the Eze Egbu’s throne, Eze Mitchell Egbukole was a Director in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, where he championed the promotion and development of both small and large-scale industries in Imo State and Nigeria as a whole. He was the first executive secretary of the Fund for small-scale industries (FUSSI) Imo State and was appointed to head various public State-owned Enterprises. He was at various times in the cause of his career the Chairman and/or member of different government parastatals in the old Imo state (present Abia, Ebonyi & Imo state).
During his reign, he was involved in various charitable programmes, aimed at promoting the entrepreneurial spirit of the Igbo community. He supported a lot of industrialist and traders in the old Aba town in accessing trade funds from government for industrial development. He was involved in education sponsorship: being a lover of education and at one time a teacher, he sponsored the education of numerous relatives and community members through Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Institutions.
His love for entrepreneurial development endeared in our hearts the vision to establish a foundation that supports youth entrepreneurship.
To this end, “Eze Mitchell Egbukole Foundation: Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme” the flagship initiative was formed.
Our mission is to provide a platform whereby youths who have distinguished themselves academically, socially and morally can attain their destiny in high places. To achieve this, we aim to economically empower youths with viable business ideas, by providing them access to funds for start-up business or expansion of existing businesses.
We believe that the impact of this Scheme will go beyond bringing value to the individuals and their families but will also encourage youths to develop themselves and focus on excellence in their various endeavours.
In the first phase of this Scheme, beneficiaries from Egbu Autonomous Community, selected in line with the under listed criteria, will be granted a Seed Capital of (One million Naira only)
The scope of this first phase of the project would include the following:
One youth (Male or Female) from each of the 5 villages of Egbu Autonomous Community will be selected to receive a seed capital of one million naira only.
This grant will be reviewed yearly and where necessary may be renewed after a satisfactory review.
To qualify, the recipient of the Seed Capital must be born between July 1985 and July 1999.
- Able to demonstrate and articulate a viable business idea.
- Shown from past antecedents to be a hardworking, responsible and industrious youth.
- Submit along with the application a detailed feasibility report/Business plan on the proposed business initiative existing or start up.
OUR PARTNER
EME Foundation partnered with Vestal Egbukole Foundation in its flagship disbursement edition for the women entrepreneurship scheme.