Niger State government has completed a three-day training for 50 first class students as Business Development Service Providers, BDSPs, to assist small business start-ups and existing businesses.
The training, organised by the state government through the Office of the Special Adviser to Governor Umaru Bago on Social Investment Programme, Hajiya Hauwa Bako, was facilitated by the Enterprise Development Centre, Pan-Atlantic University.
The participating students were selected from the Association of First Class Students in Niger State.
At the conclusion of the training yesterday, Bako said it was aimed at equipping the participants with skills to become consultants and support small businesses in their communities.
Bako said the participants are expected to be self-reliant and give back to their communities what they learnt during the training.
She said the training was part of a fully funded project that hopes to provide every local government with an expert in business development.
Bako disclosed that the state government is in partnership with the Enterprise Development Centre on a funded programme with MasterCard Foundation to train about 10,000 youths, particularly female youths, in the state.
The special adviser added that the participants would be equipped to support small businesses in various aspects, including business planning, operations and financial management.
She advised the participants to see the training as a lifetime opportunity to become consultants, not only in the state, but also globally.
Bako also disclosed that the trained BDSPs would receive certificates and continuous virtual training, enabling them to support small businesses and contribute to the state’s economic growth.
The facilitator, Mr Adegboyega Adebajo said the training focused on analytical skills, business planning, operations and human resource management.
“The participants will be able to solve problems and come up with solutions that would work for small businesses,” he said.
In separate remarks, some participants, Sahadatu Mua’zu, Mohammed Mohammed and Yakubu Abdullahi, described the training as interactive, impactful and educative.
