The Oyakhilome Bello Foundation (OBF) has said that it is planning a strategic alliance with the United Nation Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) to organise entrepreneurship development training programmes for Nigerian youths.
The foundation’s National Co-ordinator, Olaniyin Ilori, said this while speaking with newsmen Sunday in Abuja, after a closed-door meeting with UNIDO officials.
Ilori said: “We are here because we know that one of the major aims of UNIDO is to support entrepreneurs, especially Small and Medium Enterprise because they contribute a lot to national economy.”
According to him, the proposed training would be done in the country’s six geopolitical zones, adding that UNIDO Directors were very happy with the foundation’s training proposal and were willing to work with it.
Ilori said the major target of the foundation owned by Oyakhilome Bello, the All Progressives Congress (APC) United States National Youth Leader was the grassroots, especially the hard to reach communities in the country.
He said the foundation was seeking to partner UNIDO to achieve its goal of equipping individuals with knowledge, skills and resources needed to realise their potentials to contribute meaningfully to the country’s economy growth.
“Through entrepreneurship initiatives, vocational training and economic empowerment efforts, we seek to uplift the vulnerable population.
“Our initiative is to promote entrepreneurship among youths and women, including mentorship programmes and support for educational institutions.
“The training is also aimed to enhance access to educational information for Nigerians and promote enrichment opportunities.
“Through these training, we will empower youths and women to thrive academically and realise their potentials,” he said.
Ilori explained that the training was for entrepreneurs that were into Nano, Small and Medium Enterprise to improve their skills.
“The intention is to develop persons for self employment, and also to strategically position entrepreneurs for economic growth, it is a financial literacy training and mainly for entrepreneurs,” he said.
He said the foundation was deeply committed to the betterment of the society, with specific focus on wealth creation for youths, women and the less privileged in our society.
He added that part of the foundation’s mission was to focus on providing holistic support and empowerment for youths, women and the less privileged through innovative programmes.
“This we are sure will help address issues of youth restiveness and involvement in anti-social activities and make our youths better individuals.
“Also as an organisation, we are going to work with Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment on entrepreneurship development training,”Ilori said.
Mr Osu Otu who lead the UNIDO team at the meeting, expressed satisfaction at the foundation’s training proposal and promised that the organisation would work with it.
Other members of the UNIDO team include Mr Reuben Bamidele and Ms Emem Umana.