…Asks graduates to acquire technical skills
The Presidency has given out the sum of N100 million grants to 200 youths selected from across the country to boost their potentials for economic development after 10 days training.
The programme was the outcome of a six-week campaign initiated by the presidency during which Nigerian youths were asked to record and submit a one minute video on their current TVET skills, what their plans are for the future on such skills and how they want government to assist them achieve their plans.
Speaking on Saturday during the graduation and presentation of grant to 200 TVEE trainees in various vocations, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (SSAP-TVEE), Abiola Arogundade, also presented Solar Kiosks as well as Certificate of Completion to deserving participants of “Unlock Training Programme.”
She explained that at the end of that campaign, about 10,000 participants were trained in a 10-day intensive training session on how to write and execute business plans.
The presidential aide added that during the programme, both online and physical participants were trained on the components of a good business plan including executive summary, business overview and marketing strategies, pricing, money management and risks, among others.
She said: “After the course, participants were asked to write and submit business plans. Today, we are giving out N500,000 grants each to 120 winners with the best Business Plans.
“We are also giving out honourary awards to 80 persons seen to be doing very well in their Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship skills but need support to upscale their businesses.
“In all, 200 benefited from the grant. 120 are freshers while 80 are those already in business who needed financial support to boost their business. In all N100m grant was given.”
Arogundade revealed that this was one of many programmes in supporting skills and enterprise and that her office intends to continue.
She said that Certificate of Completion would be given to all participants who completed the training and to assist participants, especially new start-ups, to register their companies.
The presidential aide noted that the Staff of the Corporate Affairs Commission and Providus Bank were on ground respectively issue incorporation certificates and to credit the winners with their N500,000 grants to ensure they dont leave without their prices.
She noted: “I am here to assure you that the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, is thinking about you, not just because of this programme but because of the numerous initiatives he is creating across the country to promote TVET.
“An example of this is the inclusion of TVET in the Students Loans, Inauguration of Skills Council in the Presidency, Human Capital Development Council, in collaboration with the Governors under the National Economic Council, SUPA (Skill-Up Artisans), ITF and numerous others.We once again congratulate the 120 winners of our TVET grant and also our 80 honourary winners who will be going home with our grants today.
“It is our belief that the grants will serve as incentive for progress in your businesses going forward. We will like to also say that this is one of our many programmes in supporting skills and enterprise and we intend to continue to do so in our office. So if you are not a winner today, please continue to apply to participate in our future programmes.”
Also speaking at a well attended graduation ceremony, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, said it behooves graduates of tertiary institutions to go beyond their certificates by acquiring skills that would enhance their chances of earning a decent living for themselves.
Acknowledging the challenges of unemployment faced by the teeming population of youths in the country, he reiterated the resolve of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-ed administration to provide the enabling environment to empower underprivileged Nigerians.
Onanuga described the TVEE initiative of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education, Abiola Arogundade as well thought out since it is in tandem with the renewed hope agenda of the President Tinubu led administration.
The event was well attended by top government functionaries including Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Ohanenye, the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Nkeiruka Onyejiocha, the Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Sununu, and ths Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Students Loans and Tertiary Education, the Special Presidential Envoy Global and Pan African Affairs.