PASTOR JERRY EZE FOUNDATION DIGITAL GRANT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE HITS $600,000

Jerry Eze Foundation Digital Grant for Young People Hits New Funding Milestone

In a major youth empowerment development, the Jerry Eze Foundation has expanded its digital grant initiative for young people, with total funding commitments now nearing $525,000  - surpassing earlier projections and signaling growing support from private sector partners.

The initiative, announced by Pastor Jerry Eze, founder of Streams of Joy International and convener of the New Season Prophetic Prayers and Declarations (NSPPD) movement, was unveiled earlier this month as a grant programme targeted at young entrepreneurs across key sectors of the Nigerian economy including agriculture, technology and manufacturing.

FROM $300,000 TO OVER $500,000

The programme was originally introduced with a $300,000 budget intended to support 100 young innovators, with each beneficiary receiving a minimum of $3,000 to scale existing ventures or launch new businesses. However, in a follow-up announcement shared via social media platforms, Pastor Eze revealed that additional contributions from notable business figures and organisations have significantly increased the total grant pool:

Tonye Cole, co-founder of Sahara Group, and Tony Elumelu, founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, each committed support for 20 additional beneficiaries - contributing an estimated $60,000 each.

Nuvion Bank and Flutterwave joined as sponsors, pledging support worth approximately $105,000, including technical support and business training opportunities. Taken together, these fresh contributions bring the total value of the digital grant initiative to around $525,000 - far above the initial amount first announced.

A BROADER VISION FOR YOUTH ECONOMIC INCLUSION

According to statements from Pastor Eze, the Jerry Eze Foundation’s goal is to empower aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators - particularly young people who face barriers accessing startup capital in Nigeria’s challenging economic landscape. The initiative is pitched as grant support not loans, meaning beneficiaries are not expected to repay the funds. To bolster transparency and credibility, the selection process and disbursement of funds are planned to be managed by an independent organisation, an intentional move aimed at curbing concerns about fairness and accountability that sometimes accompany large philanthropic programmes.

PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS AND ADDED BENEFITS

Beyond cash grants, the expanded funding package includes non-financial support:

The Tony Elumelu Foundation is reported to be offering a 12-week business education programme for all beneficiaries.

Flutterwave, one of Africa’s leading fintech companies, is set to provide technical and digital support to tech-focused awardees.

These partnerships suggest a commitment to not just capital transfer but capacity building, which aligns with broader trends among Nigerian philanthropies and foundations emphasizing entrepreneurship and human capital development.

CONTEXT: YOUTH EMPOWERMENT IN NIGERIA

The Jerry Eze Foundation effort comes amid a wider ecosystem of grants and support programmes targeting youth entrepreneurship across Nigeria. In recent months, other foundations and public-private partnerships have launched grant schemes, mentorship programmes, and business training initiatives aimed at helping young innovators overcome barriers to growth. While the Jerry Eze Foundation’s initiative is still in its early stages of rollout, the rapid expansion of its digital grant pool - from $300,000 to over $500,000 - highlights growing interest from both religious leaders and corporate partners in youth economic inclusion.

Further details about application criteria, selection timelines and beneficiary announcements are expected to be released publicly by the foundation.

Further information as regards the empowerment will be published in this site. Stayed connected at spotlightnewsnigeria.blogspot.com for further updates.