ASABA/Nigeria: The Delta State Chief Job Creation Officer, Prof Eric Eboh has disclosed that over 2,324 youth have benefited from the State Government’s Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) and Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurship Programme (YAGEP)
Prof. Eboh disclosed this when he briefed the press in his office in Asaba.
The Job Creation Officer revealed that 1,687 youths have benefitted from STEP, 618 from YAGEP and 18 for the GEEP programme, saying that 50 persons with disabilities were among the beneficiaries.
He stated that the beneficiaries of the STEP and YAGEP would hold the Maiden Product Exhibition and Business Fair on the 13th and 14th of December 2017 in Asaba.
According to him the Product Exhibition and Business Fair was the first of its kind in the history of Nigeria as no state in the country has ever done this.
Prof Eboh stated that the event is built around the STEPreneurs and YAGEPreneurs to promote and uplift them to greater heights through exceptional exposure to new markets, new ideas and new contacts.
The theme of the Products Exhibition and Business Fair is “Nurturing Entrepreneurs, Creating Wealth” was to showcase STEPreneurs and YAGEPreneurs who were trained and established by the State Government under the STEP and YAGEP thereby offer them a platform and ladder for growth and sustenance.
He also stated that the products exhibition and business fair was to demonstrate the outcome of STEP and YAGEP since inception of this administration and elicit buy-ins from national and international development agencies and partners, saying that the buy-ins were vital for increased and sustained resource flow, national and international endorsement of the programme.
“Participants will be given booths by enterprises to display their products and services in their chosen manner and style and exhibition stands will also be given to DEMSMA, Technology Incubation Centre and Industrial Training Fund, Warri to show a sample of their graduands and products/services” Prof Eboh said.
The Chief Job Creation Officer urged Deltans to come out in large number to attend the event as they would have the opportunity to buy whatever they like ranging from farm produce, fashion materials among other things.
Those expected at the event include the State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, who will perform the opening ceremony, the Delta State House of Assembly Speaker, the Chairpersons and members of Boards of Government Parastatals and agencies, development partners and donor agencies (DFID, UNDP, World Bank, AFDB), Federal Government Agencies (NDE, BOI, BOA, NAFDAC, NEPC, SMEDAN, Fed Min of Agric) and Commercial Banks in Asaba.
Others are traditional rulers and religious leaders, micro finance banks accredited by DEMSMA, business membership organisation – BMOs (Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Agriculture in Sapele, Ughelli, Warri and Asaba), Professional Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations, Private Development Foundations, Cooperative Societies & Farmers Organisations in Delta State, Market Unions, trade groups and Artisans Associations in Delta State among others.
