The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dennis Idahosa, has advised youths in the state to take part in the N2 million start-up grant which the state government has provided through the Edo Youth Impact Forum.

Idahosa urged them at the EYIF where he had gone to mentor — as contained in a statement by his media aide, Friday Aghedo, on Friday.

The deputy, while he urged the youths to position themselves in the entrepreneurial space to boost the local economy, highlighted the grant as part of the administration’s efforts to engage them in the building of a secure economy.

He emphasized that the EYIF was part of the government’s drive to build a new generation of entrepreneurs that would impact and shape the state’s financial economy.

He further encouraged the youths to not be discouraged by the fact that 1,500 applicants got screened ahead of the finale scheduled for July 2, stating however, that only 30 met the requirement and thus scaled the initial process.

He said, “This number has again been pruned to 10 participants today and will eventually be reduced further to five finalists at the end of the day.

“Irrespective of who emerges as the finalists, I want you to know that you are all winners. We are here as a government to encourage the youth because any society that strives to grow must have an active youth involvement.

“The youths must be innovative and tap into the N2 million start-up grant provided by the state government under the Edo Youth Impact Forum, which is part of the efforts to build a secure economy through youth engagement.”