The Kaduna State Government has commenced the process of establishing a business support centre with the collaboration of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN).
Kaduna State Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero Disclosed this Monday at the flag-off ceremony for training of 1000 unemployed graduates under the Graduate Vocational Entrepreneurship Skills Training (GVEST) programme.
The Governor said the centre is meant to provide support services to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the state saying “contract for the construction of the centre has already been awarded by government at the cost of N70 million, being its own counterpart obligation in the partnership and work is presently in progress. The SMEDAN is expected to provide technical support as well as furnish and equip the centre when it is completed.”
Yero said the GVEST programmes aims at reducing the rate of unemployment especially among unemployed graduates adding that “under the GVEST Programme, we are targeting to train 1000 unemployed youths from across the 23 Local Government Councils, who will be formed into 100 viable Cooperative groups supported with capacity building and access to finance to establish businesses that will generate 5,000 jobs (that is a minimum of 5 employments per MSME). And thus mop up 5,000 unemployed graduates from the job market.”
He said the present administration in the State is committed to ease the process of accessing capital for citizens saying “In addition to this, Government in partnership with the DFID through its funded programme; the ENABLE (Enhancing Advocacy for a Better Business Environment in Nigeria) is working with some MDAs in creating a conducive climate for businesses to thrive in the State through the removal of encumbrances to doing business in Kaduna State, with a view to fast tracking access to services, permits and approvals.”
In addition to the 1000 unemployed graduates being trained under the GVEST Programme, the Yero administration has provided skills to 7,650 women and youths and provided them with starter packs and start-up capital for self reliance.
