The partnership agreement was signed by the state government and the centre on the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development (Ibom-LED) Programme, at the Government House, Uyo, on Friday
A statement from the Press Unit of the Government House on Saturday said the women were selected for entrepreneurial training and capacity building, with support services to establish Small and Medium Scale Enterprises on completion of the training.
Speaking at a brief ceremony to sign the Memorandum of Understanding, the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, described the partnership as a welcome development.
He expressed the readiness of the state government to work with the centre to achieve the programme’s objectives.
While commending the Ibom-LED’s interpretation of his administration’s human capital development vision, the governor affirmed that the new capacity building programme for 10,000 women in addition to the 400 youths already undergoing the Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme at the Ibom-LED training centre are indications that the programme was already achieving the desired purpose.
The hovernor explained that it was not enough to provide capital for people to get into businesses ignorantly, adding that there was the need for training on business ventures for optimal level of confidence and reliability, considering the critical roles SMEs play in creating employment and boosting the economy.
“The vision for Ibom-LED is to raise entrepreneurs and we also want to support them, but it’s not just enough to give people money. You have to train them and make them reliable.
“So this partnership for me is critical. I thank the EDC for this partnership and ask for more of this support so as to realise the visions that we have set out and at the end of it, Ibom-LED can truly say we have developed our SMEs. We can’t get it wrong with SMEs”, he stated.
According to him, with Ibom-LED, young Akwa Ibom people would develop their talents in managing human and material resources and become better leaders, than venturing into politics ill-equipped for leadership.
The Ibom-LED Team Leader and Managing Director of Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation, Pastor Imo-Abasi Jacob, explained that the Enterprise Development Centre is an arm of the Pan Atlantic University, formerly known as Lagos Business School.
He expressed optimism that with the goodwill expressed so far in granting Ibom-LED access to their capacity building programme, the state will be better for it.
The Head of the EDC Legal Team, Nnenna Ugwu, who doubles as Head of its Alumni Relations and Support Services, expressed satisfaction with the seriousness of the government in human capital development.
He disclosed that their offer in entrepreneurial training for 10,000 young women in the state through Transforming Nigerian Youths Programme, was initiated in partnership with Mastercard Foundation.
Ugwu explained that the programme was meant for young women between the ages of 18 and 35 who are already in business and aspiring to grow, adding that beyond the training, the programme has provision for support services for participants.
