SMEDAN Trains 90 Unemployed Youths

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN) has commenced the training of 90 unemployed youths in fashion, leather work and hair dressing in Taraba State.
Director General of the agency, Mr Olawale Fasanya, said this at the opening of the National Business Skills Development Initiative (NBSDI) programme in Jalingo on Monday.
He said the programme is aimed at supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in a most practical way.
Fasanya, who was represented by the Head of Enterprises in the agency, Dr Funto Babarinde, said the agency had developed the programme to provide entrepreneurship skills, vocational skills, and the provision of empowerment materials to fill the capacity gap of the youths.
He also said the programme was designed to enhance youths engagement in productive ventures, adding that the initiatives will bequeath the youth with the capacity to earn income through filling the artisan gap in Nigeria.
According to him, the programme had been implemented in all the states of the federation, including the FCT, and that a total of 3,330 entrepreneurs had been impacted with entrepreneurship skills, vocational skills and empowerment equipment at the rate of 90 per state and the FCT.
The Director General said the agency expected improved business management practices, adding that improved service provision by the trained artisans would also be achieved.
He said there would be an increase in finance, equipment and other business resources, as well as formalised artisanal businesses.
Fasanya advised participants to take the training serious, saying it is a window of opportunities to end poverty and unemployment.
A participant, Mr Solomon Musa, said the training would go a long way in impacting positively in the lives of the Nigerian youths.
He commended the Federal Government for the initiative.