Sustainable Impact

The Next Economy Program empowered young individuals in Nigeria, Mali, and Somalia, helping them unlock their potential, boost their confidence, and strengthen their skills to start successful careers and entrepreneurial ventures.

This initiative kickstarted their futures, providing support to families and communities, and contributing to the productivity and growth of companies and local economies. The results below illustrate the tangible and sustainable impact of The Next Economy Program.

Jobs Created

Young people found jobs with existing businesses or those established through the program

Startups Strengthened

Young entrepreneurs supported to start or grow their businesses

Youth Skilled

Participants completed CLS, Employability or Entrepreneurship Training

Women Empowered

0 %

of participants, through tailored support to overcome unique challenges

Business Hubs Enhanced

Hubs with increased sustainability

Money Crowdfunded

$ 0

Raised as startup capital

TNE Map for Youth entrepreneurship and employability centres

Stories of Change

Ambitious and innovative young people were the drivers of the programme’s success. These stories demonstrate how young people overcame challenges and defined their own futures. They also show how collaborative efforts of key stakeholders from coaches, to employers, and program partners can create opportunities for young people.

Fashion Journey of Success: Kyimyaýah Atelier

Kyimya Andrew, a Nigerian, Jos-based fashion entrepreneur and creative director of Kyimya’yah Atelier, transformed her passion into a flourishing business. After experiencing financial struggles, The Next Economy training by Black Innovations Africa provided business insights, enhancing financial management and fostering business growth. Kyimya's brand graces national runways, with aspirations to expand into bridal gowns and mentor aspiring designers.

Merging Agricultural Passion and Digital Marketing: Vincent’s Journey

Vincent, an agro-entrepreneur in Abuja, joined the Next Economy program at Aspilos Foundation in 2021 to merge his agricultural and digital marketing interests. After completing the program and graphic design training through the Alumni Community, he's ready for internships as a graphic designer.

Transforming Challenges into Success: Rita’s Journey with Valiant Confectioneires

Rita, Valiant Confectioneries' CEO in Jos, faced financial obstacles in her food startup, including pricing, imposter syndrome, and financial management challenges. Black Innovations Africa's entrepreneurship training enhanced her confidence, customer strategies, and financial management, reviving her business.

Overcoming Challenges to Achieve a Logistics Career: Mubarak’s Story

Mubarak, a young man aspiring to work in logistics struggled to secure a job until he joined The Next Economy (TNE). Through TNE's life skills training and alumni support, he gained vital skills, prepared for interviews with TNE's partner SOS, and attained his career goal. TNE's community and resources played a crucial role in his success.

Crowdfunding Helped Me Kick-Start My Business: Mohamed’s Journey with Billan Canteen

Mohamed, a business administration graduate from Hargeisa, overcame unemployment through The Next Economy program. He established Billan Canteen, offering diverse and delicious food. Crowdfunding initial seed money helped with growing his business, which led to more job creation and plans for regional expansion.

Transitioning to the world of employment: Yatandou's journey

Yatandou Bénédicte Somboro, a journalist, faced challenges with transitioning into employment. The Next Economy Program gave her employability and entrepreneurship training. Post training, she's gained confidence, organizational skills, and knowledge of concepts like SWOT analysis and crowdfunding.

Bridging the Gap Between Graduation and Employment: Makandjan’s internship experience

Makandjan Traore gained vital employability skills through The Next Economy program. With resume writing, job search, interview techniques, and networking skills in hand, SOS Mali helped him secure an internship. Today, he's employed as a translator and interpreter at Citraco.

From Dream to Reality: A Story of Ambition and Hard Work that Led to Hamda's Successful Business Venture

Hamda's aspiration for independence and success led her to The Next Economy Program at Shaqodoon. After volunteering to find her path, she immersed herself in entrepreneurship programs to equip herself with skills. With the newfound knowledge, she founded Jinaw Fashion & Branding, providing branding solutions for local businesses.

Pushing Through in the Midst of Challenges: The Story of Eunice Nwokocha

As a young woman with albinism, Eunice experienced societal challenges, which affected her ability to secure a job. She resorted to entrepreneurship and started a footwear business. The Next Economy program helped her with the outreach of her business and she recieved accountability and business skills training.

From Freelancer to Founder with SIMAD iLab: Muhaidin's Story

Muhaidin Aweys, from Somalia, transformed by his mentorship at SIMAD iLab, shifted from uncertain freelancer to Deegaan Design & Visualization's founder, leveraging learned skills to excel in client dealings and aspire to restore Somalia's cultural identity through architecture.

Blossoming Success: Zahra's flower company

Zahra Aweis had a dream of starting her own business. The mentorship provided by The Next Economy Training helped her overcome her financial hurdles and fuelled her enthusiam for entrepreneurship. Presently, Zahra owns Udug Flowers Company, with two branches in Mogadishu where she retails fresh flowers.

Wennovation Hub and The Next Step Economy Collaboration: Spotlight on Jiffix Automative Hub's Startup Journey

Wennovation Hub, in collaboration with The Next Economy, empowers Nigerian youth. David from Jiffix Automotive Hub shares his startup journey and how TNE sessions contributed to his success.

From Passion to Profit: The Story of Chohu Art Gallery Enterprise

Emmanuel Chohu Joshua, or artraction, turned his love for art into a successful business, Chohu Art Gallery Enterprise. Transitioning from a free artist to an entrepreneur, he overcame obstacles with training from Black Innovations Africa. Chohu Gallery now provides art and print services, seamlessly blending aesthetics and branding.

Linda's Story of Turning Passion to Power

Through The Next Economy Program, she acquired employability skills and renewed confidence. She now serves as a Research Officer at Savannah Centre, focused on conflict prevention and sustainable development. Linda aims to share her knowledge and establish a nonprofit, influenced by the program.

Skillful success: Bourama's Story with TNE

Bourama Coulibaly, a Malian journalist, found employment success through THE NEXT ECONOMY program. Equipped with crucial life skills and employability training, he secured internships at SOS Children's Village and Mali's National Radio, Channel 2, thanks to improved job search, CV writing, and communication abilities.

Empowering Somalia's Business Sector with Digital Solutions: Ayaan's Journey to Successful entrepreneur

Meet Ayan, the creator of Astaansan. She declined job offers due to inadequate incentives and started her entrepreneurial journey. Ayan now owns Astaansan, a successful digital agency providing solutions to Somali businesses.

Tackling Financial Hurdles: The Triump of Domo Ouologuem

The absence of sufficient funding poses a significant barrier for numerous youthful business visionaries, impeding the actualization of their entrepreneurial endeavors. Luckily, remedies exist to surmount this hurdle, and The Next Economy initiative stands as a noteworthy illustration of this. Through this program's assistance, Domo Ouologuem managed to raise over 2 million CFA francs in capital.

Fostering Business Skills: Lassine's Story

Lassine Tounkara, the founder of Extra-création, faced challenges due to limited visibility and resources for his leather products business. Discovering The Next Economy program enhanced his business management skills, enabling him to acquire equipment using crowdfunding. With newfound abilities, Lassine envisions a brighter future for his company, aiming to excel in Mali's business landscape.

From Vision to Reality: Pam Lydia and her Journey of the creation of Abode-Ornament

Pam Lydia is the CEO of Abode-Ornament, an interior and exterior design company. Her passion for creating comforting spaces led her to establish the business, overcoming challenges through determination and refusing to accept failure. Through training and resilience, she's turned Abode-Ornament into a renowned name in the industry, providing jobs and inspiring others, all centered around her belief that everyone deserves the emotional essence of "home."

Innovating Against Unemployment: Osman's Story of Success

Follow Osman Mursal's inspiring journey from job seeker to thriving entrepreneur in Somalia. Guided by The Next Economy, Osman's internship experience leads him to discover a market opportunity that he seizes with his own accountancy company. Witness the power of practising innovative thinking, and Osman's own vision of reducing unemployment and empowering fellow TNE graduates.

TNE's Internship Programme: Faciliating Win-Win Partnerships

TNE’s Internship Programme partners with companies and NGOs to provide quality interns. JIGI, a health, water and environmental organisation in Mali benefited from interns who received relevant core skills and employability training from TNE. The organisation continues to benefit from TNE programme and interns.

Rising to a Sweet Success: Nanwor's Journey with The Call Treats

Nanwor Joseph Nimnan, a successful female entrepreneur, is the CEO of The Call Treats, a confectionery company gaining prominence in Jos, Nigeria. Nanwor's journey began during university and she transformed her passion for baking into a business. Overcoming challenges and leveraging The Next Economy program, she's turned The Call Treats into a quality-focused venture making its mark in the region.

Paying it Forward: An Alumni Community's Impact

Discover how TNE alumni in Nigeria are paying it forward and giving back to their community by sharing their newly acquired career skills and inspiring young minds to follow their dreams.

From Uncertainty to Success: Kachollom's Story with The Next Economy

Kachollom Jasper's plans for her career were put on hold due to the pandemic, but The Next Economy's Core Life Skills program helped her gain a deeper understanding of herself and develop critical skills that ultimately led to her finding a job she enjoys as a secretary.

Shaping Futures: The Next Economy Program's Impact in Somalia and Somaliland, Illustrated through Shukri's Journey

Explore the transformative impact of The Next Economy program in Somalia and Somaliland as it reshapes the internship landscape, connecting talented graduates with companies seeking emerging talent. Here’s Shukri’s story!

Navigating the Shopping Dilemma: Charity Mahara's Story with Stock-up

Charity Mahara, a multitasking customer support engineer, founded Stock-up, a Lagos-based personal shopping service, to assist busy individuals with groceries. The Next Economy program equipped her with strategies and funding support, leading to her business's successful growth.

Till We Are All A Part, There Will Never Be A Whole

Find out how the TNE program took the path of inclusion to make sure people living with disabilities participated in the program

Unleashing potential: The impact of internships on TNE youth

King Preston Consulting in Nigeria actively hosts interns from The Next Economy program, offering valuable practical experience to young graduates. Founder Pyemwa recognizes the program's commitment to personal growth and highly recommends TNE graduates to those seeking talented interns.

Breaking New Boundaries and Learning New Lessons

Learn about The Next Economy program’s role in supporting hubs to create new innovative approaches and exploring new sustainability strategies.

Women in Entrepreneurship: Maimouna's journey to establishing Mai Cleanliness

The Next Economy Program helped Maimouna Camara develop business management skills and raise funds. Today, Maimouna has her own company - Mai Cleanliness.

Building Best Practices

TNE demonstrated that young people’s success relies on support from various entities, including business hubs, governments, and financial institutions. The documents below encapsulate key lessons and insights from TNE’s team. Through these documents, we aim to share our experiences, challenges and successes, and provide resources to inspire and inform other organizations supporting young people to find jobs and start businesses.

Building a Strong Foundation with Core Life Skills Training

A collection of reflection, lessons and insights from the team on TNE’s Core Life Skills program.

Engaging Alumni

A collection of reflection, lessons and insights from the team on TNE’s alumni engagement efforts and initiatives

Job Market Access Through Internships

A collection of reflection, lessons and insights from the team on TNE’s internship programs and efforts.

Gender Knowledge Fellowship

TNE’s Gender Knowledge Fellowship was an opportunity for colleagues from implementing partner organizations to advance their careers, interest and thought leadership through practitioner-led research. In this document, we share our reflection, lessons and insights from creating and managing the Knowledge Fellowships.

Partnering with Educational Institutions To Support Job Transitions

This knowledge document offers lessons on expanding employability programmes to support school-to-work transitions from universities and technical and vocational training centers (TVETs) in emerging economies. Partnerships are key to these successful and inclusive youth transitions to work. Cases and key lessons are shared to enhance employability support programs through
educational institutional partnerships.

Towards a Learning Culture

Lessons from an Employability and Entrepreneurship Support Program in Mali, Somalia, Nigeria and Somaliland educational institutional partnerships.