There was excitement in Owan-West Local Government Area of Edo State as the Federal Government empowered 250 women and youths with entrepreneurial skills and start-up capital to boost self-reliance and local production.
The three-day intensive training, held at the Uhonmora Civic Centre, was organized by the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) in collaboration with GGF Nigeria Limited. The programme focused on the production of disinfectants, bleaching agents, and odour control items. It combined both theoretical and practical sessions to give participants hands-on experience in small business development and manufacturing.
Addressing participants, the lead consultant of the programme, Magbagbeola Abass Adebayo, explained that the empowerment initiative was designed to promote self-employment and reduce poverty through skill acquisition and business support. He urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the start-up funds to establish small-scale businesses in their communities.
“The rationale behind this initiative is to equip you with sustainable skills and provide the seed capital to help you start immediately. Please ensure you put the funds to productive use and avoid wasteful spending,” Adebayo advised.
Also speaking, one of the facilitators, Mrs. Aisha Oladipo, encouraged participants to apply the knowledge gained during the training to improve their living conditions and support their families. She said, “Empowerment begins with the right mindset. What you’ve learned here can transform not just your life, but your entire community if applied diligently.”
The Vice President of Uhonmora Ora Progressives Union Worldwide, Mrs. Evangelina Agbai, commended the Federal Government and the programme organizers for bringing a life-changing initiative to Owan-West. She urged participants to remain disciplined and focused in using their skills and start-up capital to build sustainable enterprises.
“This is a golden opportunity. I urge all beneficiaries to take this seriously and ensure that the start-up capital is used for the purpose it was meant for building a business and empowering others,” she stated.
Beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for the empowerment scheme, pledging to make good use of both the training and the capital to improve their livelihoods.
The closing ceremony featured product demonstrations, certificate presentations, and distribution of items produced during the practical sessions. The initiative is part of the Federal Government’s broader effort to enhance local production, reduce unemployment, and promote entrepreneurship among women and youths across Nigeria.