By Adedapo Adesanya
Through its Unlock Training Programme for unemployed youths, the federal government has given N6 million made up of N500,000 grants each to 120 persons to start their businesses.
Ms Abiola Arogundade, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu, said that the grants were given to those that presented the best business proposals.
She spoke at the official closing of the Unlock Training Programme, the award of grants and Solar Kiosks, and certificates of completion to deserving participants.
Ms Arogundade explained that the programme resulted from a six-week campaign initiated by her office, during which Nigerian youths were asked to record and submit a one-minute video on their current technical, vocational and entrepreneurship skills.
She said that the youths were also asked to drop a video of what their plans were, for the future on such skills and how they wanted government to assist them achieve their goals.
Ms Arogundade said the purpose of the programme was to boost the potential of Nigerian youths for economic development.
“At the end of that campaign, we trained about 10,000 participants in a 10-day intensive training session on how to write and execute business plans.
“During the programme, both online and physical participants were trained on the components of a good business plan, including executive summary and business overview.
“We also trained them on marketing strategies, pricing, money and risk management among others. 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,” she said.
She added that her office was also giving out honourary awards to 80 persons seen to be doing well in their technical, vocational and entrepreneurship skills, but needed support to upscale their businesses.
She, therefore, expressed optimism that the grants would serve as an incentive for progress in their businesses going forward.
“We would 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,” the presidential aide said.
She expressed appreciation to all the ministers and other stakeholders, who in one way or the other, encouraged technical, vocational and entrepreneurship education across Nigeria.
Arogundade congratulated the participants for their successful completion of the programmes and the honourary winners for their dedication to the development of technical and vocational skills in the country.
“We do not doubt that you learnt very valuable lessons on how to conduct businesses henceforth and, to that extent, we celebrate you today; you are all winners,” she said.
Four solar kiosks designed for hairdressing, catering and food vending and general purposes, were also given to some of the winners to support their business growth.
The kiosks were also equipped with sockets for phone charging and spaces for POS and other businesses.
Arogundade said the kiosks were among the job creation projects designed as part of contributions to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking at the event, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, congratulated Arogundade for the programme and appealed to winners of the grants and other facilities to effectively utilise them.
He also encouraged youths to embrace skills acquisition, saying that it was the way to go to make ends meet.
