Jerry Eze Foundation Boosts Youth Empowerment Grant to $600,000: The Jerry Eze Foundation has announced a major increase in its Digital Empowerment Grant, raising the total funding from $300,000 to $600,000. The grant targets young people across Africa who are building businesses in agriculture, manufacturing, and technology.
The announcement was made by the founder of the foundation, Pastor Jerry Eze, in a follow-up video shared on social media, where he provided updates on the initiative launched earlier in the week.
New Contributions Expand Youth Participation
According to Pastor Eze, the grant was initially designed to support about 100 young people. However, additional donations from prominent individuals and organizations made it possible to expand the reach of the program.
Businessman Tonye Cole committed $60,000 to sponsor 20 additional beneficiaries. Renowned philanthropist and entrepreneur Tony Elumelu also contributed $60,000, supporting another 20 young people.
Pastor Eze further revealed that Nuvion Bank and fintech company Flutterwave jointly sponsored 35 beneficiaries, contributing $105,000 to the grant pool. These combined efforts increased the total value of the Digital Empowerment Grant to $600,000.
“So the total grant that we are going to be looking at right now is $600,000. I’m sure you know it’s something to cheer about,” Pastor Eze said.
Business Training and Technical Support Included
Beyond financial support, beneficiaries of the Jerry Eze Foundation Digital Empowerment Grant will also receive capacity-building opportunities to help them grow sustainable businesses.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation will provide all awardees with a 12-week business education program focused on entrepreneurship, management, and scalability. Flutterwave will also offer technical support and mentorship for beneficiaries operating in the technology sector.
According to Pastor Eze, this technical backing will help young tech entrepreneurs better structure their platforms and expand their operations.
Independent and Transparent Selection Process
Pastor Eze stressed that details regarding eligibility criteria and application procedures will be announced soon. He assured applicants that the selection process will be handled independently by a reputable international consulting firm to ensure transparency and fairness.
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Driving Youth Empowerment Across Africa
The expanded Digital Empowerment Grant aligns with the Jerry Eze Foundation’s broader mission of empowering young Africans and promoting sustainable economic development. By combining funding, business education, and technical support, the initiative aims to help young entrepreneurs succeed in key sectors that drive economic growth.
