The Federal Ministry of Finance says it has trained students in entrepreneurship skill development across 100 tertiary institutions in the country.
Mohammed Baba, Assistant Director, Finance and Accounts in the ministry, said this on Friday during a training exercise at the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi.
He said the exercise is being implemented under the Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria, YOUWIN, of the ministry.
Baba said President Bola Tinubu administration saw the need to catch the ‘youth young,’ to enable them to become self-reliant and reduce dependence on government employment.
“We have covered more than 100 tertiary institutions and with this initiative, the generation to come will be better.
“They have entrepreneurship skills to fall back and grow as entrepreneurs, become employers of labor in the event of not getting a white-collar job,” he said.
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According to Baba, the exercise exposes the students to theoretical knowledge and the practical aspect where the funding will come in the form of a grant to the qualified entrepreneurs in schools.
He advised the students to ensure effective utilization of the fund to set up their businesses and employers of labor.
Deborah Tatimi, a training facilitator, said that YOUWIN is designed to inspire, equip and make the students to embrace entrepreneurship as a viable career option by providing them with the mindset, skills and tools needed to build successful businesses.
She said the programme would reduce over dependence on government jobs, foster a culture of self-reliance, innovation and employment.
Kasim Salihu, the Registrar of the polytechnic, commended the gesture, adding that, “entrepreneurship is key to national development.”
Salihu reiterated commitment of the school to groom students into successful entrepreneurs.
NAN
