The Delta State Government has begun to prepare 521 graduating skills trainees under its 2019/2020 Cycle of Job and Wealth Creation Programme, on how to face the business world and entrepreneurship when they start running their chosen enterprises.
Tagged Entrepreneurship and Business Management Training (EBMT), the first round of the exercise comprised 114 participants out of the 521 beneficiaries of the Skills and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP).
The trainees are in Decoration and Event Management; Catering and Confectionery; PoP, Screed-Making and Painting; Production of Cleaning Agents, and Hairdressing, Makeover and Braiding.
The EBMT is the last part of the STEP training programme which comes after the trainees have undergone four other activities, namely the Admission Proficiency Test, Orientation and Personal Effectiveness Training, Vocational Skills Training and Completion Proficiency Test. All these they learn within three months.
In his address, the STEP Coordinator in the Job Creation Programme, Nkemchor Onyeisi, noted that the 114 beneficiaries participating in the first round of the EBMT were all qualified.
He congratulated them for completing their training at the training centres meritoriously and for their success at the Completion Proficiency Test.
He explained that the topics being handled by seasoned resource persons would adequately prepare them to face the world of business and entrepreneurship.
In his lecture on “Mentorship for Start-Ups”, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Youth Monitoring and Mentoring, Eddy Mekwunye, told them that the state government deemed it wise to establish the Directorate of Youth Monitoring and Mentoring (DYMM) to ensure that beneficiaries become successful and are able to sustain their businesses.
While assuring them of continued monitoring after establishment with starter packs, he informed them that DYMM would organize a mentorship programme to guide them while in business.
He charged them to display the right attitude of good character at all times and to make good use of the opportunity provided for them by the Okowa-led administration to improve their livelihood.
The training was held under strict observance of COVID–19 health and hygiene protocols and social distancing.
It would be recalled that the induction ceremony of the 850 beneficiaries of the current cycle of the Job Creation made up of STEP Youth Agriculture Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP), had been put on hold since March ending, because of COVID-19 lockdown but it seemed the state government, the trainers and trainees were determined to carry on with the programme notwithstanding the situation.
