The federal government, in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development’s Value Chain Development Programme, has trained women and youths at the Innovation Clinic in Taraba to enhance their agricultural businesses. The initiative was carried out in collaboration with the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).
Irmiya Musa, VCDP’s programme coordinator in Taraba, said the training, which opened on Wednesday in Jalingo, is crucial for equipping participants with the skills needed to grow their businesses from small-scale operations to medium and large enterprises. He also pledged Taraba’s commitment to ensuring the programme’s effectiveness.
Bala Yusuf, SMEDAN’s director in Taraba, described the Innovation Clinic as a business support service that facilitates business diagnosis and provides a foundation for entrepreneurship development. He noted the agency’s dedication to mentoring small-scale businesses, urging participants to carefully develop business ideas to ensure success in their chosen ventures.
Ibrahim Aminu, manager of the Technology Incubation Centre in Jalingo, encouraged participants to leverage the centre’s resources to promote and sustain their businesses. Similarly, Wiza Baido, head of the Business and Marketing Department at VCDP, advised attendees to adopt a growth-focused mindset, streamline business plans, and maintain proper records to track profits and losses.
The programme reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen agribusiness skills, support youth and women entrepreneurship, and enhance small-scale business development across Taraba State.
