The Ondo state government has commenced training programme for no fewer than 1,400 female entrepreneurs in the state on managerial skills towards advancing their businesses.
The participants, mostly young ladies, are drawn from the 18 local government areas of the state.
The 3-day programme which is the first of its kind is a partnership between Ondo state government through the office of the Special Adviser to the governor on Gender Matters and the Enterprise Development Center (EDC) of the Pan Atlantic University in Lagos.
Addressing the participants in Akure on Monday, the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, expressed the commitment of his administration towards empowering small scale businesses to drive the economy of the state.
Represented by his deputy, Olayide Adelami, the governor thanked EDC for agreeing to help train young women in the state, charging the participants to pay attention to every detail during the program.
He said, “We are truly committed to empowering women-owned businesses and small scale businesses in the state by supporting them with entrepreneurial skills and grants.
“In walking the talk, we have launched several programs in the areas of skill acquisition and entrepreneurship to ensure our teeming youths become job providers rather than looking for white collar jobs”
He urged the women to remain focused and see the training as an opportunity to improve on their existing skills and acquire new ones needed to be successful in their respective endeavors.
In her remarks, Special Adviser to the Governor on Gender, Olamide Falana, disclosed that the programme was initially designed to train 200 females but received over 2,000 applications and had to expand it to 1,400 trainees.
Falana said, “This acceptance is a sign of the openness of our populace to capacity building and readiness to take on the world of business through entrepreneurship which remains the new oil and solution to unemployment and underemployment.
“As we all know, female entrepreneurs face unique challenges in the business world. From limited access to finance to societal expectations and norms, it can be tough to navigate the entrepreneurial landscape But we are here to change that.
“To our participants, this program is designed to provide you with the skills, knowledge, and support you need to succeed. Over the next three days, you will learn from experts in the field, network with fellow entrepreneurs, and gain valuable insights into the world of business.
“We believe, that empowering women entrepreneurs is crucial to economic growth and development. By supporting each other and creating opportunities for success, we can break down barriers and achieve greatness.”
She commended Aiyedatiwa for paying attention to entrepreneurship and skill acquisition, urging the participants to advantage of the training as an opportunity to upskill and be self-reliant.
Speaking on behalf of EDC, Sidiq Deem, assured of the institution’s commitment to deliver quality training to the participants.
