Osun govt trains, empowers 1,200 youths on entrepreneurship development

No fewer than One Thousand Two Hundred (1,200) Osun youths participated in the skills upgrade and entrepreneurship development organised by the Osun State Government. They were trained in different vocations of their choices such as Paints Production, Fashion Design, Beads Making, Leather Works, Soap and Chemical Production, Catering Services, Barbing, Phone Repairs, Gele/Makeup and Hairdressing.

In his speech, Governor Ademola Adeleke, who was represented by his deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi said it is imperative that the skills upgrade and entrepreneurship development training programme is encouraged and supported to provide opportunities for wealth creation and poverty reduction so that beneficiaries of the programme could be gainfully employed and as well engage more people after the training.

“The objective of the programme is to create 5,000 direct jobs and more than 10,000 indirect jobs annually thereby strengthening commercial and industrial activities in the State. It is important to note that this laudable programme which was midwifed by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Empowerment compliments the commitment and efforts of our government to provide jobs for youths in the State thereby minimising youths restiveness and idleness in the society.

“Government is working on several other programmes through which people would be meaningfully and profitably engaged such as Revival of Moribund Industries in the State; Establishment of Special Agro Processing Centre at Erin-Osun, Establishment of Osun Special Economic Zone at Egbedi through facilitation by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“I would like to appreciate the efforts of the officials of Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Empowerment which led to the success of the programme. I would also like to commend the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) for providing Entrepreneurial training for the participants and the Bank of Industry (BoI) for facilitating Seed Loans of N50,000 to each of the participants for the enhancement of their operations.

“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the graduands to make good use of the knowledge and skills they have acquired through this programme so as to make them self-reliant.
I want to implore the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Empowerment, in collaboration with our Development Finance Partners, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the Bank of Industry (BoI) to continue to work hard to ensure that the lofty objectives of these programme are achieved. The deliverables of these programme will obviously have direct multiplier effect on the MSME sector of the State.

In her address, the Coordinating Director, Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Mrs Kehinde Odediran, commended the administration of Governor Adeleke for his commitment over people’s welfare.

She said the numbers of those seeking for jobs on a daily basis are outrageous, hence the government’s commitment to provide an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

“There is no doubt that white collar jobs are gradually fading away by the day in the country with our teeming youths roaming the streets without jobs. The main motive of this training programme is to provide job opportunities for the people of Osun State and reduce youth restiveness in the state which is in line with the Agenda of this present Administration.

“Therefore, this Skills Upgrade and Entrepreneurship Training programme provides an opportunity to learn vocations that can bring opportunities and income for our youths and indeed any interested citizens of any age group.” she said.