BENIN CITY – The Small and Medium Scale Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in collaboration with Edo State Government is set to carry out skills acquisition training and empowerment pack to about 3,000 youths as part of measures to arrest youths restiveness and unemployment in the state.
This was disclosed by the Director, Enterprise Development and Promotion, SMEDAN, Mr. Wale Fasanya during an interactive session with officials of the state government ministries, departments and agencies yesterday in Benin City.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Fasanya pointed out that “youths restiveness and unemployment have become worrisome to the present administration and is therefore finding ways to arrest it”, said.
He said the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMSES), through skills acquisition training is set to reduce youth unemployment by providing training to about 1000 youths with empowerment pack.
“The training will take the form of train the trainers where those already trained will be made to train additional 1000 and each of these people will have the tendency of training one other person thus leading to about 3,000 persons.
“The action plan for the take-off will involve the state government partnering with the agency to identify the various youths to trained.
Mr. Fasanya however maintained that the federal government has put all logistics in place towards the realisation of the training programme.
He noted that “concern with the problem of accessibility to fund, SMCDAN has started discussing with some commercial banks in the country and the Bank of Industries through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to make available fund not only for those already in business but also for the starters.
The SMCDAN Director used the occasion to solicit state government strict enforcement on land speculators who have illegally encroached on Industrial Development Centres (IDC) in the state.
In his address, the Commissioner for Youth, Sport and Social Mobilisation, Hon. Presley Ediagbonya while welcoming officials of the Small and Medium Scale Development Agency of Nigeria (SMCDAN) to Edo State noted that the initiative would enhance state government policy on youth empowerment.
He said “Small and Medium Scale Enterprises will increase capacity and reduce youth unemployment hence the State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole directed that my ministry and others handle the issue.
Hon. Ediagbonya stressed that state government is well dispose to boosting the welfare of the youths in the state.
On his part, Mr. Christopher Irume, Managing Director, Halodeen Company Limited harped on the need for government to give patronage to Small and Medium Scale Entrepreneurs to promote locally made products.
Also, a representative of the Association of Nigeria Exporters, Chief Emma Odigie decried the non-friendly attitude of financial institutions in the country in accessing fund which according to him “export business in Edo is dwindling”.
Others who spoke at the interactive session include the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Orientation, Ambassador Feme Okuo who called on the federal government to stop importation of products that could be produced locally at home.
