By Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti
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Ekiti State Government in collaboration with a United States of America based Non- Governmental Organisation (NGO) Interweave Solution, have trained about 1,000 people on how to promote Nano, Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in the State.
According to the Government, the programme will help in exposing the beneficiaries to ease of doing businesses and will reduce poverty through job and wealth creation among the unemployed graduates and traders.
Governor of the State, Mr Biodun Oyebanji explained that the programme will benefit 1,000 fresh graduates and young business owners.
He said it will be done in batches in partnership with a renowned US based NGO.
Oyebanji reiterated that his government is incurably committed to combat poverty and rescue youths from joblessness.
The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Mrs Monisade Afuye, during the flag off of the programme said industrial development is a pillar of his administration.
Oyebanji described the concept as part of the ingenious ways of expanding the scope of industrial development among young graduates and young business owners in the State.
He said government at all levels must begin aggressive promotion of NMSME under the current economic realities, so that young school leavers can be economically independent, rather than scouting for white collar jobs.
Ekiti State Commissioner for Investment, Trade and Industry, Mrs Tayo Adeola, said the programme would be extended to develop market women.
“Financial Literacy in the advanced countries has been injected into the curricula right from primary school, I mean from age seven they will be learning how to do businesses. That was why they have the skills and knowledge of doing businesses and entrepreneurial activities more than those of us in the developing countries. This is what we are trying to encourage here.”
The Commissioner charged the participants to ensure they pay back any loan from the banks to set up their businesses, saying the high level of non-performing loans was responsible for why financial institutions are unwilling to give capital to intending and business owners.
Speaking further, Adeola said: “This training programme is aimed at equipping the first batch of beneficiaries drawn from the pool of unemployed graduates with financial literacy and life skills to obtain Diploma and Masters of Business in the street in the first phase.
“Those who acquired this diploma will be attached to cooperatives to train the people on how to be successful entrepreneurs by exposing training them how to know when they are operating at loss or gain” she stated.