Sokoto, SMEDAN to train 100 youth on entrepreneurship

By David Agba
Abuja

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), and the Sokoto State Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SOSMEDA), have commenced the training of 100 youths on  entrepreneurship.

The three-day training which was jointly organised by SMEDAN and SOSMEDA, with a view to providing the youths with skills on business development and establishment.
Speaking at the opening of the training in Sokoto, the Director-General of SMEDAN,  Dr Dikko Radda said that Nigeria was now unacceptably faced with large-scale youths unemployment.
Radda, who was represented by Director, Engineering Technology and Infrastructure, Mr Abu Ozigi, added, ” SMEDAN is now set  to reposition itself for a focused delivery of business development services to micro, small and medium enterprises in the country, with particular emphasis on micro enterprises.

” SMEDAN is desirous that most of the enterprises in the micro category, which currently constitutes 99.8 per cent of MSMEs, grow to small and subsequently, medium enterprises.
” In this way, more jobs would be created and contribution to the Growth Domestic Product (GDP) would be enhanced,” he added.
Radda further stated that the two agencies were working out a sustainable funding mechanism for the beneficiaries of the training programme.
This, the Director-General added, steps would  subsequently be taken to upscale the gesture, while access to information on investments would be boosted.

” SMEDAN and Sokoto state government have commenced discussions on the re-development of the Sokoto Industrial Development Centre ( IDC).
The Director-General, SOSMEDA, Hajiya Aishatu Hassan, commended Gov. Aminu Tambuwal for according special priority and recognition to micro, small and medium enterprises.