The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has begun a five-day training and empowerment for 90 women and youth in Ebonyi on entrepreneurship skills.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ongoing training is under the SMEDAN’s National Business Skills Development Initiative (NBSDI).
Mr Olawale Fasanya, Director-General of the Agency, said at the official opening of the training on Tuesday, in Abakaliki that the programme was being implemented in all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Fasanya, represented by Monday Ewans, Director of Enterprise and Development Promotions of the agency, said the training was to empower and promote business skills in the country.
The Director-General noted that the 90 participants in Ebonyi were drawn from the 13 local government areas of the state.
He said the programme was also to support the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the most practical way across states of the federation.
According to Fasanya, the programme is in three parts: entrepreneurship, vocational skills and empowerment.
“The major focus are on GSM Repairing, Tailoring, Catering, hairdressing and makeup amongst others.
“After the training, the participants wil be empowered with equipment and materials to start their chosen businesses and improve on it
“The participants will be impacted with entrepreneurship Skills, vocational SKills and empowerment materials.
“In South East geo-political zone, a total of 450 Entrepreneurs will be impacted. In Ebonyi, 90 persons are engaged in fashion, leather works and GSM repairs,” he added.
The Director-General appreciated the State Government’s support, under the leadership of Gov. David Umahi.
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Mrs Ann Aligwe, the state Commissioner for Human Development, commended the federal government for putting up the entrepreneur skills programme.
Aligwe urged the trainees to be focused in order to build and improve their business skills.
On business development, the Commissioner urged the federal government to deepen campaign in all states to improve job creation.
“We need mega empowerment package; the government should do more by increasing number of participants in any training for Ebonyi people,” she advised.
One of the beneficiaries, Mariah Onwukwe, lauded SMEDAN for exposing them to modern skills for business and pledged to utilize what she would learn.
NAN reports that the five-day programme would end on Saturday.
(NAN)
