The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has enjoined Nigerian youths to emulate the entrepreneurial spirit of Africa’s richest man and industrialist, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

He noted that the government would continue to provide the enabling environment that would create room for the emergence of more Dangotes in the country’s industrial space.

The apex bank boss spoke during the disbursement of funds to youths to mark the commencement of the CBN’s Youth Entrepreneurship Development Programme instituted to promote capacity building and funding for young and aspiring Nigerian entrepreneurs.

A statement from Dangote Group quoted Emefiele as telling the youth to not just become entrepreneurs, but also employers of labour, adding that Nigeria had spent millions of dollars on importation of foods and other needless items.

He added that the developed countries of the world were strong economically because they were producing and exporting more than they were importing, thus giving them the desired trade balance.

Emefiele said, “It is a matter of urgency to roll out the YEDP. Our youths are full of ideas and we want to empower them. We want to nurture your dreams, not only to be entrepreneurs, but also to become employers of labour.

“We want to raise many Dangotes from among our youth entrepreneurs. We want our youths to build conglomerates and giant companies that can employ millions of Nigerians and produce goods for not only local consumption, but also for export.”