Date: 2017-11-09

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in partnership with Students for the Advancement Global Entrepreneurship (SAGE) has commenced a pilot training for teachers on entrepreneurial skills in Kwara State.

The programme tagged 'Training the Trainers', held at Kwara State Library, began on Monday with a total number of 36 teachers cutting across various secondary schools in the state as participants.

Also trained were eighteen mentors who will monitor the teachers in their schools as they impact the entrepreneurial skills to their students.

Speaking at the event, the Director General of SMEDAN, Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda, stressed that as the country's population increases, there are challenges of unemployment, which the agency is working tirelessly to cut down through its programmes.

The DG, who was represented by Mr. Tanimu Suleiman, said, "We are looking at the real cause of unemployment in the country thereby going back to the foundation, the primary and secondary school levels to inculcate the ideas of entrepreneurship among the students.

He said, "We want our people to understand the nitty-gritty of wealth creation through the foundation of learning so that they will know that it pays more running your business than waiting for government jobs.

According to him, they are aimed at changing the mindset from white-collar jobs towards embracing entrepreneurial activities and creating their own businesses to employ others.

He revealed that the pilot test programmes kicked started with six states each in every political zone of the country and two teachers selected from 18 primary and secondary schools.

"We are also employing the services of 18 mentors who are into business and understand the rudiments to work with the teachers to raise the students in entrepreneurship.

He added that SMEDAN, SAGE and Kwara State government will partner in monitoring and evacuating the participants on how they are able to deliver the entrepreneurial knowledge to the students.

On his part, the National Country Director of SAGE, Mr. Agwu Amogu emphasised that the programme is aimed at providing the students with entrepreneurial training and community services.

The Director, who was represented by the state Coordinator, Omojiade Ogudo, said "SAGE wants students to imbibe enterprise culture in their communities to know how to solve societal problems through their technical creativity.

He stated that the beneficiaries who are more closer to the students are expected to setup entrepreneur's clubs in their schools to enhance the zeal of self reliance among the students.