SMEDAN to train prisoners, retirees on entrepreneurial skills
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) says it will provide entrepreneurial skills to 40 prisoners, IDPs and retirees.
According to a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by Monday Ewans, a director at SMEDAN, there will be four-day training scheduled to begin on Monday across six states (Ondo, Niger, Katsina, Imo, Borno and Rivers).
The beneficiaries would get empowerment materials for the start-up or scaling of their enterprises, said the statement and disclosed that raising employment levels among youths required a skill-based training model essential in making a smooth and sustainable transition to employment.
“This alternative educational path fosters skills acquisition and development for professional working life. It creates self-reliance and reduces the issues of social unrest, unemployment and dependency,” the SMEDAN statement added.
It expressed concern that despite the growing economic empowerment programmes, youths continue to experience unequal access to education and skills development.
“More so, as insecurity affects the country, a lot of Nigerians are forced to vacate their ancestral homes into temporary abodes called internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps,” noted SMEDAN. “In these camps, all the persons are not given the opportunity to be exposed to the acquisition of livelihood skills (entrepreneurship and vocational) to enable them to return to financially independent lives after the camp experience.”
The agency added that many public servants spent their lives serving the nation without having the opportunity of acquiring livelihood skills that would support them after retirement.
“Most of them run into serious problems and even die from lack of financial resources, illness and the like. It is important to provide an opportunity for this set of people to acquire skills that will make them relevant during their post-retirement years,” SMEDAN explained.
According to the agency, the programme promotes skills development among IDPs, prison inmates and retirees.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
States
Niger: Police rescue two suspected phone thieves from mob
He identified the suspects as Hassan Abdullahi, 20, and Khalifa Bashir, 22.
Heading 5
Court of Appeal nullifies Electoral Act provisions on parties’ primary election, membership register
Zenith Party argued that the disputed Electoral Act provisions unlawfully interfered with the internal affairs of political parties.
Lagos
Governor Sanwo-Olu inaugurates climate investment fund
Mr Sanwo-Olu described the fund as a landmark intervention.
States
Judiciary partners revenue board to boost IGR in Taraba
Mr Agya commended the service for its reforms.
NationWide
NRC reaffirms police partnership to protect rail assets
Mr Opeifa described the nation’s railway infrastructure as critical national assets that must be safeguarded.
