By Anthony Emeka Nwosu
LAGOS, Nigeria — Surayyah Ahmad, seasoned investor and founder with extensive experience in building entrepreneurial ecosystems, has been appointed as the Taskmaster to operationalize the Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Funds (YEIB Investment Funds), a $300 million blended-capital vehicle aimed at supporting youth-led enterprises across Nigeria.
YEIB is backed by a consortium of institutions including the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Development Bank of Nigeria Plc (DBN), and the Federal Ministry of Finance. The initiative is designed to expand access to financing, technical assistance, and capacity-building for young entrepreneurs, particularly those operating in secondary cities outside traditional commercial hubs.
Ahmad, who currently leads Sabou Capital, has spent years championing adaptive financing structures, inclusive investment models, and targeted support for women and youth entrepreneurs. Her new role at YEIB represents a natural extension of this work, providing an opportunity to scale these efforts at a national level.
In her role, Ahmad will oversee the operationalization of YEIB, including licensing, governance, pipeline development, partnerships, and aligning Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem around a shared goal: making entrepreneurship a viable and sustainable path for the country’s young population.
“I invite all stakeholders—including development finance institutions, financiers, foundations, accelerators, ecosystem builders, youth groups, private-sector partners, and policymakers—to collaborate with us,” Ahmad said. “Your insights will be crucial in ensuring YEIB reflects the real needs and opportunities facing young entrepreneurs in Nigeria.”
Ahmad also expressed gratitude to the AfDB team, including Ada Osakwe, Tijani Babatunde, Sofiane Hicham Sekioua, Mouhammad Ba, and Solomon Adegbie-Quaynor, for their expertise and foundational work in bringing YEIB to fruition. She further acknowledged the leadership of AfDB, NSIA, and DBN for their trust in her leadership.
With YEIB, Nigeria aims to create a structured, sustainable ecosystem for youth-led enterprises, ensuring that the country’s future is shaped by the talent, innovation, and resilience of its young people.
