Members of Twenty (20) Artisan Cooperative Societies were trained on innovation and creativity as well as entrepreneurship skills while tasked to identify opportunities and create new value for their customers or clients on Thursday the 9th of November, 2023. Forty-five others have been empowered to strengthen their entrepreneurial skills for the improvement of the success of small-scale businesses in the state.
This is part of the Adamawa State Government’s efforts to demonstrate commitment and political will to ensure effective training and empowerment of entrepreneurs. The training and empowerment of the Artisan Cooperative Societies attracted entrepreneurs from five Local Government Areas of the State, which include: Maiha, Mubi North, Mubi South, Hong, and Gombi. Speaking during an entrepreneurship training session in Gombi, the Honourable Commissioner of the Ministry of Entrepreneurship Development, Mr. Iliya James, said the training is aimed at developing entrepreneurial competence in potential individuals, motivating entrepreneurs, and assisting these individuals in endeavoring to do the appropriate activities as well as improving their skills. The Commissioner urged them to put into use the knowledge gained from presentations presented by the resource persons at the training to enable them to contribute to the overall economic growth of the state. He applauded the Fresh Air Governor, His Excellency Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, for creating the Ministry of Entrepreneurship Development in the state, saying that it is the first of its kind throughout the nation. According to him, this is a result of the unwavering commitment, support, love, and passion that the Executive Governor has for youth and vulnerable in society. In her goodwill message, Hajiya Aisha Bawa Bello the Head of Poverty Alleviation and Wealth Creation Agency (PAWECA) thanked Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, whom she described as the Bossman of Entrepreneurship, for making this training and empowerment a great success. During the training, the resource person, Professor Ibrahim Danjuma, who is the Chairman of the Business Administration School of Business and Entrepreneurship at the American University of Nigeria, Yola, dwelt on the topics of Entrepreneurship Mindset Development, Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, as well as technical capacity in business, among others. The Training Officer in the Ministry of Entrepreneurship Development, Mr. Gwaltsu Joseph Negata, also shed light on the topic of bookkeeping and financial management. Earlier at the occasion, the Chairman of Gombi Local Government Area, Abdulraman Dauda, in his welcoming address, appreciated the Adamawa State Governor for the gesture and called on beneficiaries to use what will be given to them judiciously for their own progress and that of their Communities.
Meanwhile, the Adamawa State Government through the Ministry of Entrepreneurship Development after the training has empowered Forty-five (45) different persons with different items. At the ceremonial distribution, items such as water pumps for dry season farming, sewing machines, carpentry tools, generators, grinding machines, hand dryers, and clippers were distributed at the end of the event. The Honourable Commissioner of the Ministry, speaking during the presentation of the empowerment of materials to the entrepreneurs trained, Mr. Iliya James, said the driving force behind the program is to build stronger and more self-reliant communities. He said the gesture would not only be limited to the five local government areas alone but would go around the remaining sixteen (16) local government areas of the state. One of the beneficiaries, Cletus Apagu, thanked the Executive Governor for making it a reality, believing that His Excellency will do more for the youth in society.
By Sammeni Kamsobbi
