MONEY SPEAKS 1 NOVEMBER 2013 | Page 77

it has gone pass the point of no return and the day the international community decide to dump the dollar and make the Chinese Yuan the currency of international trade will be the day that the reality of America’s economic woes will become plain for all to see.

Micro-businesses are the drivers of China’s economic renaissance and can equally be the same for Nigeria’s youth. The economic potential of the micro-business model is endless, and with start up capital for many of these ventures as low as N50,000 ($350 dollars) in many rural communities, it is an initiative that the Federal and State governments can really get behind. An initial target of 1 million youths across the 36 states of the Federation should be set. If the Government (State and Federal) enable 1 million young Nigerians to start micro-businesses and then mandate each of them to create 10 jobs each within 4 years, then this initiative alone will add an additional 10 million new jobs to the economy.

Micro-business initiatives are a win-win for both the government and its citizens because of the following reasons;

• Microfinance is a loan and not a gift so the government (State and Federal) and all other investors who participate in the funding of the scheme will earn interest on their respective investments

• The government will earn further revenue through the corporate and personal income tax that these new businesses and their employees will pay

• Entire States will be transformed as a result of the millions of new jobs this initiative would create

• Crime amongst the youth will be drastically reduced

• WE CAN CREATE 10 MILLION NEW JOBS IN JUST 4 YEARS

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