By Evbo-Imade Osarumwense
“The creatives and technically inclined people are the most successful.”
This assertion above was made by the Commissioner for Business, Trade and Cooperatives, Hon. Afishetu Braimoh, during the graduation ceremony of 90 trainees of the National Skills Development programme organized by the Small and Medium Enterprises Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
According to her, the goal of the Edo State Government is to provide the enabling environment for Edo businesses to succeed and to provide accessible market and visibility to every product made in Edo State.
The Commissioner advised them to be passionate about their business and trade, adding that the opportunities before them are endless
Addressing the trainees, Mrs Jacklin Oscar, who represented the Director General of SMEDAN, Mr Wale Fasanya, said the program which has been implemented in all the States in Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, is designed to help trainees with vocational skills and operational materials to enable them become self-reliant.
In his goodwill message, the Managing Director, Edo State Investment Promotion Office (EDSIPO), Mr Kelvin Uwaibi, encouraged the trainees to take advantage of the various opportunities made available by the Edo State Government to advance their trade and businesses, adding that they should do all in their powers to avoid distractions and discouragement along the line.
Vocational materials given to the 90 graduands who were trained in fashion design, photography and dry-cleaning in Edo were 70 industrial sewing machines, 10 photo cameras, 10 industrial washing machines and 10 pressing irons.
Hon. Afishetu Braimoh expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and SMEDAN for the materials given to the graduands.
She further advised the graduands not to sell those materials but to put them to good use in order to improve their lives and affect those around them positively.
It is the determination of the Edo State Government through the Ministry of Business, Trade and Cooperatives and other development partners to create wealth for the citizenry through friendly business environment, access to capital and market.
