Beneficiaries of the 2018 Cycle of the Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) and the Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) have commenced another round of training tagged, ‘Entrepreneurship and Business Management Training’ (EBMT) in continuation of the packages lined up for beneficiaries of the Delta State Governments job creation programmes.
The three days training taking place at Songhai Delta, Amukpe is to engage the 2018 Cycle beneficiaries of STEP and YAGEP who have completed their three months vocational training of their chosen skills in the various training centres spread across the state.
Giving an overview of the training, the Chief Job Creation Officer, Prof. Eric Eboh, said that EBMT was one of the three components packages of the job creation programme and that it was to engage beneficiaries on how to successfully start, manage and grow their enterprises as start-ups.
He outlined the other components as the Orientation and Personal Effectiveness Training (OPET) and the Practical Skills either vocational and agriculture training.
Beneficiaries engaged in the training included those in vocational skills (STEP) such as Tiling, Plaster of Paris (POP), Interlocking, Catering and Confectionary, Hairdressing and Makeover, Audio-Visual Technology, and Decoration and Event Management.
Those in YAGEP were trained in Rice Production, Fish Production and Vegetable/Tomato Production.
He remarked that their counterparts in Electrical Installation and Repairs, Plumbing, Fashion Design and Tailoring, Information Communication and Technology (ICT,) Welding and Fabrication whose training duration was for six months were still on training in their vocational training centres.
He noted that seasoned resource persons had been engaged to help them with practical tips on how to overcome challenges that could arise as start-ups, stressing that the first three years of any business was very critical.
He encouraged them to use the opportunity of the training to build relationship and network among themselves so as to grow faster.
The EBMT featured lectures such as Starting Your STEP/YAGEP Enterprise Well, Roadmap for Business Success, How to Nurture a Baby Business, Business Start-Up Clinics, How to Develop Your Business Plan, Finding and Learning from Mentors for Business Start-up and Growth, How to find and Manage Money for your Business, How I Grew My Business from Starter Pack to a Thriving Enterprise and My Success Story in STEP
Others were Principles of Keeping Basic Business Records and Accounts, Exercises in Keeping Basic Business Records and Accounts and Starter Pack is Vital, A Difference with Starter Pack is PLUS.
Gertrude Onyekachukwu-Uteh
Communication Officer