16th June, 2016
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN and the Association of Micro Entrepreneurs of Nigeria, AMEN in conjunction with National Images have begun intensive agro-business training and empowerment programme for 5,700 youths in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
The empowerment programme is taking place in Epe and Ikeja areas.
Project Coordinator, National Images Agro-Business Training and Empowerment Programme, Mr. Seyi Bamigbade said over 11,500 youths applied for the empowerment programme out of which 5,700 successful applicants were selected.
According to him, the applicants had to be screened and shortlisted because the organisers only had capacity for 5,700 people.
He said the programme was for the less privilege, adding that the first batch of 1,000 youths had already begun their training in Epe at the Epe Youth Recreation Centre while another 1,500 youths would be trained and empowered in Ikeja at the Ikeja Youth Sports Centre beginning from 20 June, 2016.
Bamigbade added that the second batch of the training would take place in November 2016.
He said in addition, the youths would be taught how to write business proposals and draw business plans.
The coordinator also said participants would be enrolled in the cooperative scheme of the programme, just as they would be taught on how to access loans from the Bank of Industry and Bank of Agriculture.
He thanked Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for his support and called for more supports from governments, private organisations and well meaning Nigerians.