Economic and Business Strategies (EBS) Ltd, under the visionary leadership of Prof. Magnus Kpakol, is on a mission to fight poverty and create prosperity in Nigeria and across Africa. A critical part of this mission is the Nigerian Empower Africa Today (NEAT) Poverty Fund, an initiative designed to empower Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and underprivileged individuals through human capital development and social investments.

Fighting Poverty and Creating Prosperity
Poverty in Nigeria and Africa is perpetuated by a severe lack of financial and human capital, leading to limited investment opportunities and widespread poverty. EBS’s Refined Economic Development (RED) in Africa program aims to change this narrative by mobilizing financial and human resources to empower MSMEs, which account for around 95% of businesses and over 80% of employment in Nigeria.

Despite their significant economic role, less than 5% of MSMEs can access adequate financing. The NEAT Poverty Fund addresses this by promoting human capital development and financial inclusion, thereby creating wealth and driving economic growth.

The NEAT Poverty Fund: An Effective Poverty Alleviation Program
The NEAT Poverty Fund is a social investment and development matching fund coordinated by EBS. It pools social investment funds from entrepreneurs, governments, institutions, organizations, and End Poverty Today (EPT) heroes and champions from Nigeria and worldwide. This initiative promotes human capital development, financial inclusion, and wealth creation, fostering economic growth and development in Nigerian communities.

The fund empowers local governments to promote entrepreneurship and productivity, turning every local government area into a hub of production for exports and domestic consumption.

Human Capital Development
EBS conducts comprehensive global competency training for participating entrepreneurs and stakeholders. This training covers technical, financial literacy, behavioral, multicultural, attitudinal, and emotional skills, among other essential soft skills, ensuring participants are productive and globally competitive.

Vision and Mission
Vision: To see a prosperous and globally competitive Africa, free of poverty.

Mission: To fight poverty by mobilizing and coordinating social investment funds along with human capital training to promote entrepreneurship, trade, global partnerships, and economic development across Africa.

Objectives
Promote Entrepreneurship: Mainstream real sector and capital market investments.
Drive Financial Inclusion: Enable MSMEs and underprivileged individuals to access financial resources.
Promote Human Capital Development: Provide effective global competency training.
Generate Wealth: Boost productivity for entrepreneurs and society.
Promote Economic Growth: Connect participants with the mainstream economy for increased global competitiveness and economic transformation.
Key Aspects of the Fund
Program Administration: Day-to-day management and stakeholder engagement.
Coordination of Investment Pools: Organize MSMEs and underprivileged individuals, pooling their funds through a licensed custodian/investment organization.
Matching Funds: Engage in local and global partnerships to enlarge the investment pool.
Monitoring and Evaluation: Implement a robust framework to track, evaluate, and report performance.
Research and Development: Conducted by the Economic Growth and Development Center (Economic Center) for EBS.
Investment Strategy: Diversified portfolios, long-term focus, and professional management.
RED in Africa Advisory Board: A small team of high-profile individuals committed to poverty eradication and economic development.
Program Profile and Implementation
EBS charges a fee to cover its major functions:

Access to Capital: Mobilization and coordination of matching funds for investments.
Human Capital Development: Global standard training for participants and stakeholders.
Stakeholder Roles
Local Governments: Provide matching funds and chair Community Investment and Development Committees (CIDCs).
Entrepreneurs: Make contributions to mainstream capital market activities.
Asset Management Company: Maximize returns on investment across real sector and capital market portfolios.
End Poverty Now (ENT) Heroes and Champions: Provide matching funds for the Empower Africa Today Poverty Fund.
Coordination, Commissions, Fees, and Return on Investment
EBS charges administrative, mobilization, coordination, and monitoring commissions on mobilized funds. Commissions and fees cover expenses and support human capital training. Returns on investment are reinvested or used to promote entrepreneurship and well-being.

By enabling MSMEs and underprivileged individuals to pool matching funds for investment, EBS aims to unlock new opportunities, catalyze economic growth, and drive inclusive prosperity across Nigeria and Africa. Through strategic partnerships and collaborative efforts, EBS is committed to empowering entrepreneurs, creating wealth, and building a resilient and vibrant economy.

About Prof. Magnus Kpakol
Prof. Magnus Kpakol, Founder, Chairman, CEO, and Chief Strategist of EBS Ltd, has a distinguished career as Chief Economic Adviser to the President of Nigeria and National Coordinator of the National Poverty Eradication Program (NAPEP). He is a consultant to various organizations in the US and Canada and speaks at top conferences worldwide. Prof. Kpakol is also the Chairman and CEO of the Economic Growth and Development Center, with offices in Dallas, Texas, and Abuja, Nigeria.