The Edo State Government through its Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the Society for the Empowerment of Young Persons (SEYP) has held a six-day intensive training on Basic Entrepreneurial Skills and Financial literacy for persons with disabilities, survivors of Gender-based Violence (GBV) and petty traders.
The training which held at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA), drew participants from Egor, Oredo, Ovia South-West, Ovia North-East, Orhionmwon, Ikpoba-Okha and Uhunwonde Local Government Areas of the State.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Chief Bisi Idaomi Esq., represented by the Director of Women Affairs, Mrs. Florence Nwaozor, commended participants for their dedication, enthusiasm and active engagement throughout the training, stating that the programme was designed to offer practical skills for business development and also to instill a deeper understanding of financial management, planning, and income generation strategies, which is essential for long-term success in today’s evolving economy.
While encouraging participants to implement what they had learnt with discipline, confidence and purpose, Chief Idaomi emphasized that they had been provided with valuable skills to not only launch and grow their businesses, but also to manage their finances more effectively, plan strategically and think innovatively as entrepreneurs.
Chief Idaomi while appreciating the partners, and the facilitators, who contributed to the success of the training, reaffirmed the commitment of the State Governor, Sen. Monday Okpebholo to the empowerment of marginalized and vulnerable groups across Edo State. She explained that initiatives like the training are part of a broader, strategic agenda of the State Government’s vision to build a more prosperous and equitable Edo State, where every citizen, regardless of gender, socio-economic status, or geographic location, has access to tools, resources and opportunities to improve quality of life.
In his remark, the GIZ Adviser for Employment Promotion and Migration, Mr. Joel Zombou, expressed his admiration for the creativity and innovation demonstrated by the participants throughout the training, stating that GIZ is committed to empowering vulnerable groups, especially women and persons with disabilities. Encouraging participants to apply the knowledge gained, he stressed the importance of building strong, sustainable enterprises and stated that entrepreneurship is not just about making profit, but also creating value, practicing financial responsibility, and contributing meaningfully to community development.
The Executive Director of SEYP, Omo-Ero Victoria gave lectures on Foundational Entrepreneurial Skills, including Idea Generation through brainstorming, Macro-Screening, and Prototyping. She also taught participants how to identify their target audience, develop compelling pitches and apply creativity in marketing.
She emphasized the importance of clear communication, strong customer relationships and active networking, noting that successful entrepreneurs cannot thrive in isolation. She encouraged participants to develop a distinct brand identity and to be known for something unique in their business spaces. On financial literacy, she covered core concepts such as Budgeting, Saving, Record Keeping and Managing Financial Risks, and the importance of differentiating between needs and wants to promote long-term financial stability.
The training offered participants the opportunity to engage in interactive learning experiences, including questions and answers sessions, psychosocial games, storytelling, and collaborative group activities. The sessions played key roles in building participants’ communication, teamwork, and relationship skills.
One of the participants, Mercy Omodia, appreciated the organizers and described the training as, interesting, motivating, educative and informative. She stated that she had gained valuable knowledge from the training and particularly appreciated the ‘Hands-on’ aspect of the programme. “What I really love about this programme is the practical aspect of it. We were able to bring ideas together and make something very creative and captivating”. She said.
Wisdom Agbonta
Public Relations Officer
Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development
PHOTO CAPTION
Front Row (4th Right): The Executive Director of SEYP, Omo-Ero Victoria; 5th Right: the Director of Women Affairs, Mrs. Florence Nwaozor; Middle: the GIZ Adviser for Employment Promotion and Migration, Mr. Joel Zombou during the training on Basic Entrepreneurial Skills and Financial Literacy for persons with disabilities, survivors of GBV and petty traders at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy in Benin City.
