10,000 youths in Edo to receive TNY entrepreneurship training – Official

No fewer than 10,000 youths in Edo will receive entrepreneurship training to be self-reliant under the Transforming Nigeria Youths (TNY) Entrepreneurship programme.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the TNY programme is sponsored in the state by the Enterprise Development Centre, Master Card Foundation and Edo Skills Development Agency (Edojobs).

Speaking during the inauguration of the programme on Friday in Benin, Dr Olawale Anifowose, General Manager, Enterprise Development Centre, said the aim was to partner Edo Government and create more jobs, especially at the grassroots.

Anifowose said that there were a lot of opportunities in the state that could be turned into money making ventures if youths were equipped with the right entrepreneurial skills.

He said the 10,000 Edo youths would form the first set of beneficiaries of a five-year entrepreneurship training that would run in the state.

The General Manager said that the programme, which started in Lagos had seen to the training of 37,000 youths in one year.

“The TNY programme aims at creating about 10 million new jobs in Africa and more than 20 per cent of these jobs are focused in Nigeria.
“200,000 jobs are expected to be created every year in the country through this initiative”.

He said the 10,000 Edo youths, between the ages of 18 and 35 years, would undergo three months online training with a free data plan.

Anifowose further said that the trainees would also have opportunity of being mentored and receive startup funding for those who complete the three months training.

“The three key objectives of the programme are to create the correct mind set about entrepreneurship, provide access to market and direct services as well as provide access to funding opportunities.

In her remarks, Ukinebo Dare, Managing Director, Edo Skills Development Agency, said the programme would scale up business activities in the state especially for Micro and Small Scale Enterprises.

“It is not all about quick money, but having a sustainable business venture that will create jobs and add value to the society.

“Edojobs is about teaching people how to make long term investments by linking them to the right business information, equipping then with entrepreneurial skills, funding and market. (NAN)