The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN) has started a three-day training to strengthen the ability of 100 entrepreneurship teachers in Damaturu, Yobe.
This was said by Mr. Olawale Fasanya, Director-General of SMEDAN, during the start of the training session on Tuesday in Damaturu.
The exercise is being carried out under the agency’s Mind Shift Entrepreneurship Programme-National School Entrepreneurship Programme (N-SEP).
He claimed that the participants, who were selected from elementary and secondary schools, were receiving training in anticipation of passing on what they learned to their students and pupils at the conclusion of the activity.
Fasanya, who was represented by Dr. Yinka Fisher, said that the training was important and timely given the lack of white collar jobs in the nation.
“The concept is designed to inculcate into the students the intelligent and intellectual consciousness of his/her environment to enable him/her maximise his/her existence and potential.
“Today’s education should therefore be predicated on the philosophy of creating jobs, i.e. turning the students from being job seekers to job creators.
“It is no more go to school, get good grades and get a good job.
“It is how to go to school, get good grades and acquire skills of being your own boss – starting your own business,” he said.
He added that the other states would benefit from the initiative before the end of 2022, noting that the program, which started in 2017, has so far been implemented in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Fasanya stated that the organization would also launch a National Secondary School Entrepreneurship Competition in 2023.
Alhaji Yakubu Sani, Director, Entrepreneurship, Business and Sustainability, State Ministry of Wealth Creation, Empowerment and Employment Generation, expressed his gratitude to SMEDAN in his remarks.
He claimed that unemployment, particularly among young people, was one of the main drivers of insurgency and other violent crimes.
Sani stated that the state was prepared to assume control of the initiative and that the ministry had finalized plans to make soft loans available to women and young entrepreneurs.
