Ninety business owners including makeup artists and fashion designers in Ogun State have been recently empowered by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN.
The Director General of SMEDAN, Mr Olawale Fasanya while speaking at the closing ceremony of the five-day National Business Skills Development Initiative in Abeokuta said the programme was aimed at eradicating poverty and reducing the unemployment rate in the country.
Mr Fasanya, who was represented by the Chief Enterprise officer of SMEDAN, Mrs Funto Babaride, noted that the Initiative was designed to provide entrepreneurship skills and empowerment materials to fill the capacity gap among the youth.
Ogun State Manager of SMEDAN, Mr Abiodun Awoniyi, while speaking pointed out that the 90 beneficiaries were trained and enlightened on entrepreneurial skills in order to achieve a profitable business venture, adding that the skills acquired would enable the beneficiaries to empower others, create jobs and equally create wealth that will further contribute to the economy.
Sixty-nine fashion designers in Ogun state got industrial sewing machines, 12 makeup artists received makeup box tools while 10 beneficiaries involve in laundry services got 10 washing machines and ironing equipment while over 3,000 entrepreneurs are expected to receive the skills and empowerment materials across the thirty-six states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.