The Osun government has said that its entrepreneurship programme has the capacity to empower 5,000 job seekers in the state.

The state social investment focal person, Kehinde Ibitoye, disclosed this in a statement issued in Osogbo and made available to newsmen on Monday.

The statement noted that the administration of Gov. Ademola Adeleke had unveiled the state entrepreneurship programme to empower no fewer than 5,000 youths, especially entrepreneurs and job seekers.

It stated that the programme was being implemented in partnership with some stakeholders, including Fidelity Bank and UNIPRENEUR.

The statement read in parts: “We are using this medium to unveil Osun entrepreneurship development initiative to the public.

“The first phase of this initiative will only allow the selected 5,000 participants to seek entrepreneurship knowledge online and get certificate of learning at the end of 30 days learning period.

“It is expected to kickstart by May 1.

“The certificate of learning will be  handed over to all participants at a ceremony on a date to be agreed on by the stakeholders involved.”

The statement further added that the initiative was in tadem with the administration’s commitment to create jobs across the state.

“The project was facilitated by the Office of the Focal Person to Osun Government via the Federal Government Social Investment Initiative.

“Fidelity Bank’s commitment is to facilitate the opening of corporate and individual accounts for all the 5,000 participants.

“It will also offer Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) loan to only qualified businesses and also provide other business banking support services to them subject to the bank procedures.

“The 5,000 participants are expected to enjoy full support of the State Government when the state eventually launches its SMEs programme,” the statement added.

It further stated that the e-learning platform access code of UNIPRENEUR of each stakeholder would be sent to the 5,000 participants by May 1. 

(NAN)