SMEDAN began the training of 90 youths in four entrepreneurship skills in Kebbi on Monday.

The training is being conducted on the National Business Skills Development Initiative (NBSDI) with beneficiaries drawn from the 21 local government areas of the state.

Mrs Fatima Shuaibu, Deputy Director, Enterprise Development and Promotion at SMEDAN said beneficiaries would be trained in furniture making, tailoring; cell phone repairs and welding.

She represented the Director-General of SMEDAN, Mr Olawale Fasanya, at the inauguration of the training in Birnin-Kebbi.

She said the training would increase artisanal businesses among and provide entrepreneurship and vocational skills acquisition and empowerment of youths.

“The programme will enhance youth engagement in productive ventures, thereby ensuring they earn income through filling the artisanal gap in the state.

“The initiative was designed to ensure that more professional services were provided by local and well-trained young artisans leading to reduction in reliance on neighbouring countries.

“It seeks to pursue drastic reduction in dependency as most of the out-of-school youths, who still rely on stipends from parents, are empowered to become self- reliant,’’ she said.

Shuaibu said the training equally hinged on improved business management practices and service provision by trained artisans.

It increased access to finance, equipment and other business resources and formalised artisanal businesses, she added.

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“Under the programme, implemented in 36 states of the federation and the FCT, a total of 3,330 entrepreneurs, 90 from each state, are expected to be trained and supported with empowerment materials, she said.

The director-general’s representative thanked the Kebbi government for supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state.

In his remarks, SMEDAN’s Manager in Kebbi, Mr Abdulkadir Ibrahim, expressed the hope that the training would motivate and encourage beneficiaries to become self-reliant and not to wait for white-collar jobs.

“We advise beneficiaries to take the training seriously and grasp all aspects of its packages and justify investments made by the Federal Government,’’ he said.

Ibrahim reiterated SMEDAN’s commitment to ensure the development of MSMEs in the area of job and wealth creation and poverty alleviation.

(NAN)