A total of 150 unemployed graduates in Kwara State have been awarded certificates for entrepreneurship to enable them access the sum of N45million approved by the government for youth empowerment and employment.

The youths had been made to undergo a six week intensive training at the Kwara State University, Malete, where they learnt entrepreneurship self employment skills.

At the presentation ceremony by the Commissioner for Commerce and Cooperatives, Alhaji Raji Mohammed, the youths were said to have sent on the training in batches, and at the end registered as cooperative societies under which they would access loans from accredited micro finance banks.

The Commissioner disclosed that government had earmarked N100million to assist boost its Small and Medium Scale Entrepreneurship, SME, Scheme out of which the N35miilion would be disbursed to the youths in a few days time.

He noted that even though more than 40 percent of the country’s population are youths, majority of who are unemployed, he said that the state is still far from making any appreciable progress in addressing their problems.

He also disclosed that 28,000 people benefited from the programme last year of which N250million was set aside for the training and empowerment of the youths.

Also speaking, Director of Youths Entrepreneurship and Empowerment, Kwara State University Dr.Murtala Awodun said, the programme was designed to last five semesters but was compressed into six weeks for intensive teaching and learning.

He promised that the university would l keep in close touch with the graduates to ensure proper utilisation of the loans.