TechnoServe Nigeria commences capacity building of 800 young entrepreneurs
Ms Ayokanmi Ayuba, Acting Country Director of TechnoServe Nigeria on Thursday said that TechnoServe had commenced its capacity building activities for 800 youth micro-retail entrepreneurs in Port Harcourt, Rivers and Asaba, Delta.
Ayuba told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the training was done under the Pan-African Youth Entrepreneur Development (PAYED) Programme funded by Citi Foundation.
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She said that the objective of the programme was to increase the capacity of the young entrepreneurs and diversify their businesses.
“This would help create significant job opportunities in the Niger Delta region,” she said.
NAN reports that TechnoServe and Citi Foundation had on 27th and 29th January launched the 3rd edition of the Pan-African Youth Entrepreneur Development Programme (PAYED 3) in Port Harcourt and Asaba.
According to her, the first two phases were implemented in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Enugu.
“The programme built the capacity of more than 600 youths in these areas and improved their income by an average of 34.5 per cent.
”It was part of a regional initiative to harness entrepreneurship to generate better economic opportunities for young people in four African countries; Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya and Tanzania.
”In Nigeria, the programme has focused on improving the operations and growth of micro-retail shops, particularly for women entrepreneurs, who comprised 78 per cent of participants in the last programme.
”Micro-retail shops provide opportunities to generate income and employment and serve as economic bedrock in many local communities, providing residents with vital, basic goods and services,” she said.
Ayuba said that participants would gain critical skills for running a successful business, financial management, merchandising, marketing and develop connections with other entrepreneurs and vendors.
She said that part of TechnoServe’s “whole market” approach was to create self-sustaining progress, collaborate with providers of technology, e-commerce training and services while financial institutions would provide the support required for growth of businesses.
“The goal of Citi Foundation and TechnoServe is to equip the next generation with the skills and tools to create their own economic opportunities. They can then build a better future for themselves, their families and their communities,’’ Ayuba said.
NAN reports that TechnoServe is a non-profit organisation operating in 29 countries and working with enterprising men and women to build competitive farms, businesses and industries.
