The governing All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday began the training of over 2000 Lagos youths in entrepreneurship, business development and capacity development, targeting 2000 youths nationwide.
The training tittled ” Enterprise Skills Development Training (EDET) was declared open by the National Youth Leader of the party, Dayo Israel, in presence of the APC National Deputy Chairman, Mr Emmanuel Enoko, APC National Deputy Organising Secretary, Hon. Nze Chidi Duru and former APC National Legal Adviser, Babatunde Ogala SAN.
Others include; Lagos APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, Afenifere Chieftain, Hon. Wale Oshun, former Deputy Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Tola Banjo, Council Chairman of Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, Simiat Bada and some chieftain of the party.
Addressing the trainees, Isreal explained that the training would enhance the capacity of business owners, adding that it would also prepare the youths for self-reliance.
The APC National Youth Leader stated that the essence of politics and governance is to better the life of the citizens, adding that the life of people could be better if they are equipped skillfully for productivity.
Speaking further, Isreal said APC is not only concern about winning elections but also the empowerment of the people for the growth of the nation’s economy.
“As a political party, we believe our job is beyond electing people into public offices. Our job is to ensure issues of development, economy and well being of the citizens are treated. Election is only a part way to solving problems of the society and equipping the right leaders to addressing issues. So, therefore, that is why we have come together to put this progressive enterprise skill development training programme to build the capacity of the next generation entrepreneurs and business owners. The training is to strengthen their capacity and help them become successful, equip them to be able to build businesses of the future, to be able to build sustainable businesses and businesses that will grow beyond this generation. And that is our goal as the youth wing of the party.
” This is not a political event, this is an event to train the upcoming industrialists. We believe to achieve this, we need to equip the youths with the right skills such as soft skills, business management skills and entrepreneurship skills. We will teach them how to raise fund for their businesses. We have also brought government agencies to connect with them such as SMEDAN, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Bank Of Industries (BOI) and many more.
He explained that the trainees would be trained on how to manage government policies and the impact of foreign exchange, saying that the trainees applied online to be able to participate in the programme.
Israel said the youth wing would connect the trainees with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) where they could borrow upto N5million maximum to start their businesses.
Meanwhile, the APC National Chairman, Sen. Abdullahi Ganduje who was represented by the National Deputy Chairman (South), Mr Emmanuel Enoko, advised the youths to think beyond seeking white collar jobs after graduation.
Ganduje said the country is in need of skillful youths for socio-economic growth and development, adding that era of job-seeking after graduation had gone.
He lamented that many youths have diverted the knowledge and skills learnt in the university into criminal acts like internet fraud and kidnapping, suggesting for the reform of the university curriculum to meet up with the current reality.
The APC National Chairman also advised the youths to embrace farming as a profession, adding that it would help in solving the challenges of food insecurity in Nigeria.
He sought the cooperation of the youths in supporting President Bola Tinubu to succeed by concentrating more on skill acquisitions for economic self-reliance and society development.