By Chinwe Imo-Eze
Over 90 women and Youths from Ebonyi State will receive empowerment after engagement in a five-day entrepreneur skill training by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).
The training organised by SMEDAN’s National Business Skills Development Initiative (NBSDI) which is in three parts; entrepreneurship, vocational skills and empowerment is geared to empower and promote business skills in the country.
The Director of the agency, Mr Olawale Fasanya, 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, 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.
“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.
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
