The Akwa Ibom State Government has entered into a partnership agreement with the Lagos State-based Enterprise Development Centre to empower 10,000 women entrepreneurs.
These women, aged between 18 and 35, have been selected for entrepreneurial training, capacity building, and support services to help them establish Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) upon completing the training.
The Memorandum of Understanding for this collaboration was signed as part of the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development (Ibom-LED) Programme, which aims to boost human capital development and entrepreneurship in the state.
The agreement was signed at the Government House in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Governor Pastor Umo Eno welcomed the partnership as a significant development and reiterated the state government’s commitment to working closely with the Enterprise Development Centre to achieve the program’s goals.
He commended the Ibom-LED’s interpretation of the state’s human capital development vision, noting that the training and capacity building provided to 10,000 women, along with the 400 youths already undergoing the Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme at the Ibom-LED training centre, are steps toward fulfilling the program’s objectives.
The Herald reports that Governor Eno emphasised the importance of training and capacity building for entrepreneurs.
He highlighted that it’s not sufficient to provide capital to people for business ventures; they also need proper training to build confidence and reliability. He emphasised the critical role of SMEs in creating employment and boosting the economy.
The Ibom-LED Team Leader and Managing Director of Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation, Pastor Imo-Abasi Jacob, explained that the Enterprise Development Centre is part of the Pan Atlantic University, formerly known as Lagos Business School.
He expressed optimism about the positive impact of this capacity-building program on the state.
Nnenna Ugwu, the Head of the EDC Legal Team and Head of Alumni Relations and Support Services, expressed satisfaction with the government’s commitment to human capital development.
She disclosed that the program is part of the Transforming Nigerian Youths Programme, initiated in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, aimed at empowering young women entrepreneurs in the state and providing them with support services for their businesses.
The partnership between Akwa Ibom State and the Enterprise Development Centre aims to foster entrepreneurship and economic development by equipping women entrepreneurs with the necessary skills and resources to succeed in business.