By Our Correspondent
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has supported 90 entrepreneurs in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with equipment to promote youth engagement in productive ventures.
The Director-General of SMEDAN, Mr Olawale Fasanya, announced this at the closing ceremony of a four-day National Skills Development Initiative (NBSDI) held at weekend in Abuja.
Fasanya said the initiative was a nationwide programme.
Represented by Mrs Mary Kolawole, FCT SMEDAN Manager, the Director-General said the Agency designed NBSDI to provide vocational, entrepreneurship skills and equipment to empower the youths.
Fasanya urged the beneficiaries to utilise the materials productively.
He noted that the Agency designed the programme to reduce poverty.
“Having acquired knowledge in business practice and service delivery, access to finance and equipment, it is essential that you put them to proper use to promote your businesses, generate wealth and contribute to the national economy,” Fasanya said.
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He expressed hope that at the end of the programme, which started on Nov. 29, beneficiaries could fill the capacity gap among the youths.
“SMEDAN is implementing the programme in the 36 States of the federation and the FCT, with 90 beneficiaries each.
“A total of 3,330 entrepreneurs are imparted with entrepreneurship skills, vocational skills and provision of empowerment materials.
“It is in a bid to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in a practical way that SMEDAN developed NBSDI.
“With NBSDI, SMEDAN aimed to empower artisans with entrepreneurship and vocational skills and equipment.
“In the FCT, the agency engaged 90 entrepreneurs in fashion design, car wash and leather works.”
The DIrector-General said that SMEDAN would monitor the business progress of beneficiaries by visiting them regularly.
This is to ensure that they utilise the equipment well.
He cautioned that the agency would not hesitate to retrieve any equipment that may be misused.
Some beneficiaries commended the Agency for the gesture and pledged to use the equipment and the knowledge acquired judiciously.
Mr Joseph Afolabi, who received a car washing machine, said the equipment would help him to earn a good living.
“I learnt how to wash cars well and how to treat my customers in a polite manner.
“A combination of all these will grow my business and position me to employ others,” Afolabi said.
Miss Grace Simon, a recipient of the leather works industrial machine, said she had gained more knowledge in leather works and that the machine would improve her productivity.
“I can now improve the quality of my work with this machine,” Simon said.
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