Introduction to Niger Government’s Initiative
Niger Government has trained 3,000 young entrepreneurs on financial literacy and business management skills, as part of its capacity building initiative in the state. This initiative is a significant step towards empowering the youth and promoting entrepreneurship in the region.
The Training Program
Hajiya Hauwa Bako, Special Adviser to the governor on Social Investment Programme (SIP), stated that the training was conducted by the state government in collaboration with MasterCard Foundation and Enterprise Development Centre. The online and offline training programme, tagged: ‘Transforming Nigerian Youth (TNY), was launched in March to train 10,000 youths, particularly young women, between the ages of 18 and 35.
Objectives and Benefits
According to Bako, the aim is to transform the mindset of these young entrepreneurs, move them from the informal to the formal market and provide them with access to markets. The training is being conducted in batches, with 2,000 young entrepreneurs already being trained online and almost 1,000 trained physically in the first batch. The 50 First Class graduates trained in May as Business Development Service Providers are already working with small business startups and existing businesses, providing them with necessary support.
Stakeholders’ Remarks
Bako commended Gov. Umaru Bago of Niger for his human capital development initiatives, especially for women and youths to excel in their various endeavors. Alhaji Shehu Bwari, Coordinator, Entrepreneurship, Ministry for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise, described the training as one of the best initiatives to come to the state. Mr Yusuf Christopher, Project Coordinator, Enterprise Development Centre, said the training would help young entrepreneurs build their capabilities on how to own successful and sustainable businesses.
Beneficiaries’ Testimonials
In their separate remarks, some of the beneficiaries, Fatima Abdullahi and Fatima Hamza, expressed appreciation to the state government for the initiative. “We have learnt how to establish a business, handle it and make it grow, I see myself as one of the biggest business owners in the state in the next five years,” Abdullahi said. “The training has been impactful, providing us with new ideas on how to grow our businesses,” Hamza added.
Conclusion
The Niger Government’s initiative to train young entrepreneurs on financial literacy and business management skills is a commendable effort towards promoting entrepreneurship and empowering the youth in the state. The training program has been well-received by the beneficiaries, and the stakeholders have expressed their appreciation for the initiative. It is expected that this program will have a positive impact on the economy of the state and the country at large.
FAQs
Q: How many young entrepreneurs have been trained by the Niger Government?
A: 3,000 young entrepreneurs have been trained by the Niger Government.
Q: What is the objective of the training program?
A: The objective of the training program is to transform the mindset of young entrepreneurs, move them from the informal to the formal market, and provide them with access to markets.
Q: Who are the collaborators of the training program?
A: The collaborators of the training program are MasterCard Foundation and Enterprise Development Centre.
Q: How many batches of training will be conducted?
A: The training will be conducted in batches, with a total of 10,000 youths to be trained.
Q: What is the age range of the beneficiaries?
A: The age range of the beneficiaries is between 18 and 35 years.
Source: nannews.ng
