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Tag: Aisha Abubakar

  • Adebule wants more women in leadership positions

    The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, on Thursday called for strategies to increase the number and influence of women in economic, political and business leadership positions in the country.

    Adebule made the call at the 2019 Women Directors Luncheon organised by the Institute of Directors, Nigeria (IoD) at Ikoyi, Lagos, with the theme: “Are You Board Ready?: Strategies for Success’’.

    She said: “Data reveals that women remain heavily outnumbered in both the legislative and executive arms of government, considering their population.

    “Similarly, it is still a man’s world within the corporate boardrooms and leadership.

    “Therefore, we need to adopt practical solutions that can improve women’s path to leadership roles in proportion to our numbers.

    “We must also speak up and stand for other women, work hard to assert ourselves and adopt women mentors that will be ready to invest time and energy into guiding others.

    “By doing this, we will increase women’s participation and help to position women as the next frontier of development in Nigeria.’’

    Also speaking, Hajia Aisha Abubakar, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, urged women to be courageous by taking bold steps towards breaking the barriers working against them.

    Abubakar urged women to be continuously strategic and innovative in the alliances they build, to enhance their visibility in governance at all levels and in all facets of their lives.

    “The ministry will continue to remain committed to the quest for gender equality and total social inclusion,’’ she said.

    Read Also: Adebule hails Nigerians for re-electing Buhari

    In her keynote address, Mrs Yvonne Ike, Managing Director, Head Sub-Saharan Africa, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, said that having more women in decision-making positions would trigger socio-economic and political growth in any human endeavour.

    Ike identified experience, good character, confidence, enquiring mind, listening skills, resourcefulness, negotiating power and assertiveness, as some of the requirements for the woman to make it to corporate boards.

    She also suggested that a good way of getting women into management board was by scouting and grooming them from an early stage in their careers, preparing them for the future.

    In his address, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed, President, Governing Council, IoD Nigeria, said that gender diversity was important and had positive effects across organisation and society.

    Mohammed said that women generated 37 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) globally, despite making up 50 per cent of the population.

    He called for an action-oriented initiative that seeks to enhance the leadership of women in bringing transformative changes focusing on peace, security and development in the country.

    In her remarks, Dr Aisha Abdurrahman, Chairperson, Women Directors Committee, IoD Nigeria, said that the luncheon was to help the woman rediscover her path and prepare her to take up leadership positions in the public, private and business world.

    “This luncheon is to help the woman rediscover her path, prepare her to take up leadership positions in terms of capacity and confidence and reinforce the woman’s ability to thrive in the corporate world, businesses and the society at large.

    “We are also here to share ideas, knowledge, add value, promote professional competence, integrity as well as support women in leadership positions.

    “It is time for more women in the boss room than in the other room,’’ Abdurrahman said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the IoD is a prime leadership forum in the organised private sector formed in Nigeria in 1997, to help directors fulfil their legal and professional responsibilities for the benefit of the individual, business and society as a whole.

  • Ministers, Japanese envoy seek improved ties

    Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Aisha Abubakar, her Federal Capital Territory (FCT) counterpart, Mohammed Bello and the Ambassador of Japan in Nigeria, Yutaka Kikuta have called for improved collaboration between both countries.

    While they expressed delight in the existing cordial relationship between Nigeria and Japan, Mrs. Abubakar, Bello and Kikuta want an increase in collaboration in the areas of economy/trade, technical assistance and manpower growth.

    They spoke in Abuja on Saturday at this year’s anniversary celebration of the Japan International Cooperation Agency Alumni Association of Nigeria (JAAN), tagged: “JICA Day.”

    JAAN is an association of Nigerians, who have participated in the various training programmes facilitated by the Japanese Government, through its international development agency – Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

    READ ALSO: KWASU fetes don now envoy to Japan

    Mrs. Abubakar, who was represented by the ministry’s Director of Rehabilitation, Nkechi Onwukwe, noted that many Nigerians have benefited from the relationship that exists between both countries.

    She said her ministry has equally enjoyed the support of Japan, through JICA. She advocated the sustenance of the relationship.

    Bello, who was represented by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Chinyaka Ohaa, noted that Japan has contributed and continued to contribute to the development of the Abuja City.

    He identified some of the recent project in which Japan was involved, to include the solar power system meant for water supply in the FCT and the Abuja waste management system.

    Bello, who praised the Japanese authorities for also assisting in the area of human resource development, called for an enhanced cooperation between both countries.

    The Charge d’Affair, Embassy of Japan in Nigeria, Shigeru Umetsu, who represented Kikuta, said his country has equally benefited from its relationship with Nigeria.

    He said he was optimistic about an enhanced cooperation to promote inter-cultural understanding among both nations.

    JAAN President, Ahmed Agberankhe said his association has been active in facilitating businesses and training opportunities for Nigerians, and was currently working on more.

    “We are currently making final preparation to assist 20 businessmen from different companies in Nigeria to attend a food and food materials trade fair in Tokyo, Japan in April this year.

    “While we appreciate the continuous support of the Japanese Government to Nigeria, through the Technical Assistance Programme, we look forward to an aggressive drive for improvement in trade relations between both countries.

    JICA’s Chief Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Makiko Okumura said she was delighted that both nations were interested in sustaining the relationship between them and its attendant benefits.

  • MTN Foundation empowers 19,000 persons with disabilities

    The Director,  MTN Foundation, Mrs. Aishatu Sadauki, said the foundation has empowered 19,000 persons with disabilities through its Disability Support Project.
    Mrs. Sadauki also said 100 young persons with disabilities have undergone skill acquisition training programmes and benefitted from a micro credit scheme under the MTN Foundation Skills Acquisition Project.
    She said these empowerment programmes were done in collaboration with government at various levels to ensure that persons with disabilities are empowered by opportunities to live fulfilled lives.
    She disclosed this during a programme to celebrate this year’s International Day of Persons With Disabilities, in Abuja, with the theme “Disability: Breaking down the barriers.”
    Mrs. Sadauki also said the foundation has awarded 833 under-graduate scholarships to blind students in public tertiary institutions and over 291 individuals have graduated from the MTNF Scholarship Scheme for Blind Students.
    “We didn’t stop there; we went further to equip these graduates with the requisite skills to thrive in today’s dynamic and highly competitive job market, through employability workshops.
    “We will continue to give our best efforts. We will continue to collaborate with diverse stakeholders to support all persons living with disabilities to break down barriers,” she said.

    Read Also: MTN sharpens youths’ ICT skills

    In her remarks, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Aisha Abubakar, said globally, disability remained one of the major challenges that continually threaten human existence and the attainment of meaningful development.
    She said her ministry has taken it upon itself to give more attention to issues relating to barriers faced by persons with disabilities.
    “Disability issues are too important to be ignored, therefore, letters have been sent to the 36 states of the federation and the federal capital territory (FCT), academic institutions, cultural centres and our development partners to ensure full participation in marking this year’s International Day of Persons With Disabilities.
    “This will serve as awareness creation, sensitisation and public enlightenment campaigns, which are expected to bring lasting change, in line with the Change Agenda of Mr. President.
    “The Federal Government remains committed towards doing her best to cater for the needs of all her citizens, PWDs inclusive for national development, where no one is left behind,” she said.
    Senior Special Assistant on Persons Living With Disability to President Muhammadu Buhari, Dr. Samuel Ankeli, said the president has directed the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency to employ 1000 persons living with disabilities in the 36 states, including the FCT.
    “SMEDAN has been directed to empower 1000 persons with disabilities in each state in the next twelve month. I assure you that your lives are important to the president,” he said.

  • Child marriage: Six million girls under 15 married off in 2015, says FG

    The Federal Government has said six million girls under 15 were married in 2015.
    Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Aisha Abubakar disclosed this in her address at a Programme to celebrate this year’s Universal Day of the Child which took place at the School ofthe Gifted, Gwagwalada, Abuja.
    The Programme, which had: “Children are taking over and turning the world blue” was organised by an international nongovernmental organisation, Save the Children in collaboration with the ministry.
    The minister, who was represented by Deputy Director, Child Development in the ministry, Ali Madugu, said a 2015 situation analysis showed that 36 million Nigerian girls married before the age of 18.
    She said child marriage remained a major developmental challenge affecting Nigeria.
    The minister said: “Children form an appreciable size of our population. The rate of child poverty remains high, with children experiencing two or more deprivations of their basic needs. Hunger and poverty therefore remain major concerns for our children.
    “Significant number of children lack access to basic life saving services such as health, education and birth registration.
    “Child marriage is one of the developmental challenges affecting children in Nigeria. A situation analysis in 2015 conducted in Nigeria revealed that an estimated six million girls where married by age 15 and 36 million girls were married by aged 18, nationwide.”

    Read Also: Empowering the girl-child to fight for her rights

    In his remarks, Director of Advocacy and Campaigns, Save the Children, Amanuel Mamo, urged governments at all levels to prioritize girls access to health, education and protection programmes.
    He said this will help to curb child marriage in the country.
    Mamo said: “Save the Children is calling on governments to step up their efforts to develop and implement action plans that include full access to health, and protection for girls. These plans must be fairly financed and must incorporate a strong focus on education.
    “We call for a stronger coordination and effective responses across the education, health, nutrition, protection, economic and justice sectors in order to improve the lives of many disadvantaged girls and boys.
    “Save the Children urges for an increased investment in improving the quality of and access to primary and secondary education in particular, as well as the development and implementation of a multi sectoral action plan to strengthen girls equal access and completion of quality education that empowers them to make an informed decision on issues that affect them.”

  • NCWS to Buhari: Fill three women seats in the cabinet

    The National Council for the Women Societies (NCWS) on Thursday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to replace the three women who left the federal cabinet before the end of December this year.
    NCWS members from the 36 states and FCT paid a courtesy visit to the President at the State House Villa, Abuja.
    President of the NCWS, Dr. Gloria Laraba Shoda told the President that the three women should be replaced in line with the 35 percent affirmative action.
    She said: “As you also Know, Nigeria is yet to fulfill the target of 35 percent of women in decision- making posts in the executive. We want to use this opportunity to raise this matter as well. If we do not, our women will ask us, why ?
    “They are watching as we speak. The three women who vacated their ministerial posts for various reasons have not been replaced.
    “This means that there is a deficit in the number of women in your cabinet. Sir, as we appeal to you to please champion the inclusion and participation of more women in your cabinet, public and board appointments, can we also leave here with the hope that these three women ministerial vacancies will be filled before the end of the year?
    “For us, this is the  only way that women can participate in governance and have have a seat at the table of executive decision – making in public  policy.
    “Your Excellency, we are not happy about the way the major political parties treated women in the last primary elections. The major parties charged exorbitant fees for forms and other levies, after which a lot of women were either dropped or asked to withdraw.
    “Your Excellency, this is why the 35 percent affirmative action is key for Nigerian women political  advancement, this is done in many countries. When passed into law and domesticated in all states and all political parties, it will make us very happy with government,” she said.
    The female Ministers at the beginning of this administration were Amina Mohammed (Gombe), Zainab Ahmed (Kaduna), Kemi Adeosun (Ogun), Aisha Abubakar (Sokoto), Aisha Alhassan (Taraba) and  Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe).
    Mohammed, Adeosun and Alhassan have left the federal cabinet.
    While Mohammed resigned to take a UN job, Adeosun resigned over NYSC scandal and Alhassan left over her disqualification from the governorship race by the APC.
    Responding, the President promised to look into the issue as he claimed that he replaced the women that left with other female members of the cabinet.
    He said Adeosun was replaced by Zainab Ahmed and that Aisha Alhassan was replaced by Aisha Abubakar.
    The President said: “I have appreciated the settle and timely threat you have made. I said timely because you waited until campaigns are about to start. You mobilise yourselves to come and threaten me. I hope you are being very fair to me. You said I haven’t replace the casualties from my council about the ladies.
    “I’m sure you are following up. One, applied to leave because she wanted to be the governor of her state. One failed to meet the government requirement of declaring NYSC certificate. I replaced them with other ladies, Finance and Women Affairs. So, I don’t know where I went wrong there.
    He said the request of the council on Agricultural loan would be looked into, noting out that his administration has transformed the sector.
    On sexual violence, Buhari said: “I have taken note of the observation you made about the abuse of women in IDP camps. I’m encouraging the Police to be much more efficient and I think something is being done about that.
    “I will look at the issue of appointment. Since the threat is clear, election is coming…  I thank you more sincerely for coming but I wonder why you waited until after three and a half years before you come.” he said
  • BoI disburses N20.5bn to 346 female entrepreneurs

    BoI disburses N20.5bn to 346 female entrepreneurs

    The Bank of Industry ( BoI ) said on Thursday that it disbursed over N20.5 billion  in 2017 to 346 enterprises owned by women.

    The Managing Director of BoI, Mr Kayode Pitan, made the disclosure at the bank’s celebration of the 2018 International Women’s Day in Lagos.

    The International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8 annually to recognise the roles of women and seek gender equality and women empowerment.

    The theme of the 2018 celebration is: “Press for Progress”.

    Pitan was represented by Dr Waheed Olagunju, BoI’s Head of SMEs.

    He said that the bank recognised the role, achievements and contributions of women entrepreneurs to the development of the nation’s economy.

    The managing director said that the disbursement impacted positively on livelihood, job creation and GDP growth.

    Pitan said that the bank had earmarked N22 billion for 2018 to support women businesses and build on past successes to drive economic growth and recovery.

    He reiterated BoI’s commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs through the bank’s Gender Business Group promoting women enterprises through innovative, financial and business support services.

    He said that the bank would continue to equip women with requisite skills and knowledge aimed at driving entrepreneurship growth.

    According to him, supporting women can unleash a strong force for innovation, productivity, wealth creation and economic growth.

    Earlier, Hajiya Aisha Abubakar, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, said that the Federal Government would continue to support female entrepreneurs to boost inclusive and virile economic growth.

    The minister was represented by Mrs Temitope Gbamgboye, a Director in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

    Abubakar said that the government would not hesitate to expand its programmes to encourage more women to embrace entrepreneurship.

    NAN

  • ‘Local patronage of goods’ll stimulate growth, create jobs’

    ‘Local patronage of goods’ll stimulate growth, create jobs’

    The Minister of State, Industry, Trade & Investment, Mrs. Aisha Abubakar, yesterday said patronising made-in-Nigeria goods and services will stimulate economic growth and crate jobs for the youths.

    The minister who spoke in Lagos at the flag-off of ‘campaign for patronage of made-in-Nigeria products and services’ said the inward looking initiative of the current administration is expected to boost the nation’s economy by reviving the local industries to produce goods of international standards.

    According to her,  some of the products the nation has competitive advantage in are textile, furniture, food and drinks, leather and leather products.

    She said  if these resources are exploited, it will lead to the generation of jobs, promote culture and tourism sector, create wealth, reduce poverty and increase the foreign exchange earnings capacity of the country.

    She said: “The promotion of made-in-Nigeria products and services will also stimulate growth and promote innovation in our Medium Small and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs). In addition, it will boost financial inclusion and overall security of the country, two key elements essential for sustained economic prosperity and development.”

    She said the Federal Government has put plans in motion to translate the MSMEs into bigger platforms noting that many of the operators are small but with quality products. She the MSMEs have not only improved the quality and standards of their products but also packaging. She said is prepared to group the small businesses into clusters, boost them financially and also offer advisory services in the areas of marketing.

    Minister of Information & Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, while commending the local manufacturers said the ‘Executive Order’ is expected to boost the patronage of locally produced goods and services. He said the procurement policy of the government makes it compulsory for ministries and agencies to patronise locally made goods. He encouraged manufacturers to continuously work to improve the quality of their products and also deploy information technology (IT) tools in marketing their products.

    Earlier, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode said the craze for foreign goods and services brought the country to its current situation.

     

    He urged the Federal Government to stimulate export and encourage the consumption of locally produced goods with innovative policies.

    Ambode said the state’s partnership with Kebbi government in rice production has resulted in sharp drop on rice importation and the conservation of the much needed foreign exchange.

    Represented by the Commissioner of Commerce & Industry, Prince Rotimi Ogunleye, the governor said the state has encouraged the growth of several MSMEs through various capacity and empowerment programmes in addition to ensuring supportive investment matching of small businesses in the state.

    He said this has encouraged job and wealth creation for entrepreneurs in the state. According to him the nation cannot grow sustainably except non oil export is encouraged.

     

  • May 29: Osinbajo pays surprise visit to Garki market, interacts with traders

    May 29: Osinbajo pays surprise visit to Garki market, interacts with traders

    …Traders lament high cost of rent, food items

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday afternoon paid a surprised visit to Garki Model market in Abuja.

    The visit was a part of the activities marking the second anniversary of the Muhammad Buhari’s administration.

    Osinbajo in the market interacted with traders in order to get firsthand information on the cost of goods and food items in the market.

    He arrived the market at about 3:10 pm to the cheers of the traders who shouted “Osibaba, APC” and left the market after about 45 minutes.

    While pricing some food items which included fish, onions, rice and beans, the Acting President also received complaints from the traders who said that the cost of renting shops was high.

    A fish seller who sought government’s intervention to reduce the cost of the shop said it was as high as N250, 000 per annum.

    She also complained that the prices of locally smoked fish had gone high just as the imported ones had also skyrocketed.

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    A rice seller, Alhaji Nasiru Maiyaki Kuryfi also complained of inadequate shop space.

    He said that the management of the market was yet to complete the shops already paid for.

    Responding, Osinbajo promised to intervention in the situation including the high cost of rent.

    He encouraged the traders to go into agriculture in order to enhance local produce.

    Osinbajo also appealed to the traders to keep their goods at affordable prices especially at the time of Ramadan.

    “The more we farm the more the cost of products will come down”. He said

    Osinbajo was accompanied to the market by the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar and other senior presidential aides.

    Speaking to State House correspondents at the end of the visit, Osinbajo’s Spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande said the visit was to feel the pulse of Nigerians.

    RELATED: Video: Osinbajo interacts with Garki traders

    He also said that the Acting President earlier in the day played host to a group of school children to commemorate the Children’s Day on Saturday.

    He said: “This surprise visit is essentially in the mood of May 29 Democracy Day that is approaching. The Acting President decided to go to the market to feel the pulse of Nigerians.

    “He wanted an opportunity to hear directly from the people and he decided to go to the market so that he can have some kind of one-and-one interaction with the traders.

    “And of course, to assure them that the Buhari administration is very much committed to revamping the economy and bringing back the economy to recovery and to assure the people that the singular purpose of the president is to ensure that life gets better; that things improve economically and in spheres of life in this country.

    “And it is also in time, just at the beginning of the Ramadan fast. He also used the opportunity to encourage traders to ensure that they keep the prices affordable and assured that government will always be ready to do whatever it can to support all Nigerians at this time.

    “Of course, you also remember that in the morning, he welcomed a group of school children, also because tomorrow (Saturday) is Children’s Day. And he wanted an opportunity to interact with the children. He took them to his office and also gave them gifts in the spirit of the celebration of Children’s Day”.

     

  • ‘Access to finance, manufacturing hubs will unlock textile industry’s potentials’

    ‘Access to finance, manufacturing hubs will unlock textile industry’s potentials’

    Improved access to finance, capacity building and creation of a network of manufacturing hubs, constant electricity supply and other factors have been identified as enablers that would unlock the growth potential of Nigeria’s ailing Cotton, Textile and Garment (CTG) sector.

    This was the view expressed by speakers at the inaugural edition of the Africa Fashion Week Textile and Garment manufacturing conference on Friday, 1 July 2016 in Lagos.
    The theme of the conference which had in attendance policy makers, development finance institutions, bilateral trade institutions, fashion entrepreneurs and manufacturers was “_Making Nigeria the Fashion Hub of Africa_.”

    In his welcome address, Chairman of the conference and President, Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBBC), Mr. Dapo Adelegan, disclosed that the textile industry is the 2nd largest industry in any nation. Proclaiming that the future of the industry in Nigeria is bright, he urged that the conference should be used as a platform to encourage investment in the CTG sector which will ultimately, boost
    the GDP of the country.

    Declaring the conference open, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Aisha Abubakar, said the federal government is fully committed to reviving the CTG sector of the manufacturing industry and would also support all parts of its value chain of which fashion is one.

    This process, she said, is in line with the core economic mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to create jobs.

    The minister outlined some of the steps taken by the federal government in reviving the CTG sector such as the creation of an enabling business environment, the repositioning of government agencies like Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and Bank of Industry (BOI), appropriation of funds to the CTG industry and resolution of the issue of multiple taxation.

    “Government is creating an enabling environment by improving the ease of doing business for which a presidential committee driven by the private sector would be set up. SMEDAN industrial training fund and Bank of Industry are being repositioned
    to address the MSMES.
    They are core to the implementation of the National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP) which is aimed at generating about five million jobs.

    “Funds are being set aside to refinance the CTG sector and address legacy problems including power. Tax incentives and changes in regulations do affect employment. Proposals are being discussed on how the issue of multiple tax can be addressed,” Mrs Abubakar said.

    The minister also announced that the government would soon create Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and garment production hubs and urged members of the fashion industry to take advantage of the project to develop the value chain of the sector.

    “Government is also looking into setting up ICT and garment production hubs which will offer opportunities across the value chain. I would like to implore the fashion industry to look at these areas in the value chain especially currently underdeveloped and look for collaborative ways of moving this forward. This will bring in more people into the industry which has the potential to generate employment,” Mrs Abubakar stated.

    In his keynote address, the Lagos State Commissioner of Finance, Dr. Mustapha Akinkunmi, said the importation of foreign fabrics and clothing which is as a result of Nigerians preference for foreign goods is hampering the growth and development of the textile industry and the fashion value chain. He said this is regrettable in spite of superiority of some local and African apparel such as Adire, Kampala and Ankara to the foreign ones that are being dumped in the country.

    He urged young Nigerians in the fashion industry to take advantage of vocational training, micro-financing and employment trust fund initiatives of the state government to create innovative designs and apparels using local fabrics.
    While decrying the dearth of fashion institutes in the country, he announced the intent of the Lagos State Government to establish centres of excellence for fashion design training at the state owned university and polytechnic.

    Speaking on the need for the conference, Founder, Africa Fashion week Nigeria, Ms. Ronke Ademiluyi said; “After six years of creating opportunities for Nigerian designers to excel on the global stage, we were compelled to commit resources to the development of the local fashion industry value chain. Without a thriving local value chain, we will be unable to translate the runway success of our designers and
    fashion entrepreneurs to job creation and shared prosperity for our nation. Our commitment is to improved access to finance for designers, capacity development programmes and establishment of manufacturing hubs.”

    The Africa Fashion Week Textile and Manufacturing conference is the primary activity of the first day of Africa Fashion Week Nigeria.
    Organised by AFWL Africa Concepts, the conference aims to redefine textile and garment production processes in Nigeria.

  • Go, become Bill Gates, Dangotes of your generation, -El-Rufai

    Go, become Bill Gates, Dangotes of your generation, -El-Rufai

    Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai has tasked 779 entrepreneurship trainees to become the next world richest men, like Bill Gates and Aliko Dangote with the business knowledge and skills they have acquired. 

    Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the first intake of the Kaduna Start-up Entrepreneurship Programme (KADSTEP) and induction of the second batch of trainees, El-Rufai said, his administration has targeted to train 5,000 entrepreneurs in the next three years.

    It would be recalled that, Kaduna State Government conceived KADSTEP to empower aspiring entrepreneurs to be able to access the various intervention funds that are available to support micro and small businesses.

    The Governor told both graduating and induction trainees that, the present government sees the youths as the future, and treats them with seriousness they deserve.

    His words: “Those of you graduating today therefore constitute a vanguard that has been empowered to make a difference. You have not been given handouts, but your government has provided you the knowledge capacity to thrive in challenging times. We trust that you will make the most of it. Some of you may falter before becoming the next Bill Gates and Aliko Dangotes of this world. But you have been given the tools to try”

    “To the incoming intakes, I welcome you to KADSTEP. Make the most of the opportunity to immerse yourself in business knowledge, sharpen your skills and be ready to fly as soon as you graduate. The first set had 279 trainees. The second set that we are inducting today has 500 trainees. We are taking an incremental approach to reaching our target of training 5000 entrepreneurs. This is an investment in the future, and we are proud to do our duty to make this investment”

    El-Rufai said, “Permit me to begin by saying emphatic congratulations to the first intake of the Kaduna State Entrepreneurship Programme (KADSTEP) who are graduating today. These 279 young persons took the opportunity presented to them to acquire sound business grounding that can propel their evident passion to set up their own enterprises, add  value and create jobs. They can be proud of themselves as the first graduates of a programme designed to help them think of their proposed businesses in a way that a potential investor can consider bankable”

    He added that, “In applying for KADSTEP, our graduates demonstrated that they were not wedded to any sense of entitlement, but were ready to grab opportunities that could build their capacity to conceive strong and realistic business ideas. These first intake have amply demonstrated that the youths of our country are ready to face challenges, and that they can embrace initiatives designed to help them succeed”

    Having undergone three months of business training, we look forward to hearing success stories from a lot of you” The governor said.

    Our government noticed that the N1b intervention fund we had with the BOI was not been disbursed because the bank did not consider most of the applications it received as viable. On our part, we did not want any potential entrepreneur to treat or consider these funds as unaccountable patronage, or as free funds to feed an unsustainable entitlement mentality. We decided that it was best to create a platform for the willing youth to acquire the necessary business skills. And we were lucky to find willing partners in the Kaduna Business School KBS and the Bank of Industry,BOI”

    “I wish each of today’s KADSTEP graduates success,  not only in securing funding, but in building successful and sustainable businesses. And I welcome the next batch of 500 trainees into the programme. Your government sees you as the future, and treats youth with the seriousness they deserve. Some other people cynically treat young people as easy fodder, to be fed paltry patronage and deluded into the belief that their future is dependent on the benevolence of thieving patrons”

    The Governor maintained that, “This government believes that the future of this country is hardworking, discerning youth who have trained their minds and hearts, and whose trust in honest endeavour is anchored on values that link effort to reward.” He stressed.

    On her part, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar, who spoke at the graduation and induction of the trainees said with the new policy direction of the change administration of President Mohammadu Buhari: “we have no option than embracing economic diversification for a sustainable prosperous future that was hitherto impeded by our undue fixation to the oil sector”.