Kaduna govt, SMEDAN to set up business support centre

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.

Governor Ramalan Yero made this known while flagging off the training of 1000 unemployed graduates under the Graduate Vocational Entrepreneurship Skills Training, GVEST, programme.

Yero said the centre would 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.”

He further said that the GVEST was aimed at reducing the rate of unemployment especially among graduates adding that “under the 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.”

According to him, the present administration in the state was committed to ease the process of accessing capital for citizens adding, “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.”

Yero said his administration had also provided skills to 7,650 youths and provided them with starter packs as well as start-up capital.