In establishing YBI in Nigeria, support has been drawn from Youth Business International, a programme of the Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum(IBLF). Hence YBI was established in 1999 as a program of the International Business Leaders Forum and as an informal partnership between IBLF and the Prine’s Trust. The purpose of the partnership was to help business people and partner organisations around the world to start up youth business initiatives, drawing on the experience of the Prince’s Trust. A network for six (Barbados, Canada, India, Mauritius, South Africa and Sri Lanka) youth entrepreneurship organisations was created.

The concept was to mobilise local business communities who, working in partnership with local and national organisations, would provide access to finance for young people through a programme of business mentoring and the provision of seed money. Since inception, YBI has remained a branded program of the IBLF. YBI is now present in more than sixteen countries.

YBI Nigeria held its' first fundraising dinner in Abuja, in May 2001 in the presence of its' patron His Excellency, President Olusegun Obasanjo and Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Funds raised was used to give loans to thirty young people under a pilot programme in Lagos. The businesses set up range from poultry, fish farming, piggery, screen printing, hairdressing, cyber cafe, catering, garri selling honey packaging, etc. Furthermore the recipients receive training to improve their business and managerial skills.