By, Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri, February 18, 2018.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has trained 50 Borno
entrepreneurs on new skills and innovations to create more jobs
opportunities and employment in the country.
The UN agency’s training programme; was also to stimulate
entrepreneurship in Nigeria and support the private sector development
with focus on 20 million unemployed youths.
Addressing the trainees at a six-day entrepreneurship training
workshop at the weekend in Maiduguri, the UNDP Country Director,
Samuel Bwalia said that the agency has commenced engagement with
federal government to establish youth employability, innovations and
entrepreneurship programme between 2018 and 2022.
According to him, the trainings, was to stimulate entrepreneurship and
support private sector development with focus on the unemployed
youths.
He said the five-year training programme has targeted six states of
Borno, Adamawa, Yobe in the Northeast; and Benue, Edo and Delta in the
Southeast.
His words: “We are focusing on young people, who are irking for new
skills to be employable in national and international job markets.
Currently, there are 20 million graduates; who are unemployed in the
country.
“To do that we are working with co-taker industries that will give us
the input that they wanted to employ and in what specific skills and
innovations.
“To accord our priorities and ensure that these skills that are
impacted to young people are also internationally recognized.”
He continued: “If they wish to go abroad and seek for employment
opportunities there, their credentials will be recognised and honoured
by the new employers.
He said the focus on innovations, was to enable the trainees become
creative and competitive in the job markets with new products and
services.
He said for the trainees become successful businessmen and women their
mind sets should be changed through entrepreneurship training.
He added that they are also provided with business development
services, which include the teaching on business accounting and
marketing, value chain development and packing.
He however noted that small businesses are too risky and small for
most of the commercial banks.
He said the agency is to set up financial facilities that could
provide finance to small businesses, particularly to starters.
He assured that once the entrepreneurs grow their businesses, the
banks can continue to provide adequate financial support.
https://scrollreport.com/2017/01/18/wife-of-the-president-calls-for-more-support-for-underprivileged/
https://scrollreport.com/2017/02/19/bank-of-industry-organised-training/
