Youth Bank Nigeria
About us
YouthBank was conceived by Theodore Ogbonna, the head of African Youth for Transparency, an United Nations recognized NGO formed in Lagos in 1998. Orphaned at age seven, he spent years living as one of the many young people crowding the streets of the port city of Lagos, hawking old newspapers and offering shoe-shines. He witnessed firsthand the frustrations of saving pennies and the terror of wandering packs of area boys, preying on younger children.
In 2004, Theo took part in the World Youth Centre, a social entrepreneurship program in Toronto, where he encountered Clara Chow , who shared his vision of making YouthBank a reality. Since then, a dedicated YouthBank team has been assembled, comprised of University of Pennsylvania students, a group of volunteers on the ground in Lagos, and several interested advisors and mentors, including Nigerian, Canadian and American lawyers, international development consultants, and microfinance workers.
Mission
YouthBank operates a community youth center, employing high potential Lagosian street youth to act as managers and employees. Through on-the-job training and seminars, YouthBank employees develop fundamental business skills. YouthBank also grants small loans to proven employees who demonstrate an interest in starting their own business.
YouthBank was conceived by Theodore Ogbonna, the head of African Youth for Transparency, an United Nations recognized NGO formed in Lagos in 1998. Orphaned at age seven, he spent years living as one of the many young people crowding the streets of the port city of Lagos, hawking old newspapers and offering shoe-shines. He witnessed firsthand the frustrations of saving pennies and the terror of wandering packs of area boys, preying on younger children.
In 2004, Theo took part in the World Youth Centre, a social entrepreneurship program in Toronto, where he encountered Clara Chow , who shared his vision of making YouthBank a reality. Since then, a dedicated YouthBank team has been assembled, comprised of University of Pennsylvania students, a group of volunteers on the ground in Lagos, and several interested advisors and mentors, including Nigerian, Canadian and American lawyers, international development consultants, and microfinance workers.
Mission
YouthBank operates a community youth center, employing high potential Lagosian street youth to act as managers and employees. Through on-the-job training and seminars, YouthBank employees develop fundamental business skills. YouthBank also grants small loans to proven employees who demonstrate an interest in starting their own business.
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