FG Empowers 250 Women, Youths In Edo With Skills, Start-Up Capital

ABUJA – There was excitement in Owan-West Local Government Area of Edo State as the Federal Government empowered 250 women and youths with entrepreneurial skills and start-up capital to boost self-reliance and local production.

The three-day intensive training, held at the Uhonmora Civic Centre, was organized by the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) in collaboration with GGF Nigeria Limited. It focused on the production of disinfectants, bleaching agents, and odour control items, combining both theoretical and practical sessions to equip participants with hands-on experience.

Addressing participants, the programme’s lead consultant, Magbagbeola Abass Adebayo, explained that the empowerment initiative was designed to promote self-employment and reduce poverty through skill acquisition and business support. He urged beneficiaries to use the start-up funds judiciously to establish small-scale businesses in their communities.

“The rationale behind this initiative is to equip you with sustainable skills and provide the seed capital to help you start immediately. Please ensure you put the funds to productive use and avoid wasteful spending,” Adebayo advised.

Also speaking, Mrs. Aisha Oladipo, one of the facilitators, encouraged the participants to leverage the knowledge gained during the training to improve their living conditions and support their families.

“Empowerment begins with the right mindset. What you’ve learned here can transform not just your life, but your entire community if applied diligently,” she said.

The Vice President of Uhonmora Ora Progressives Union Worldwide, Mrs. Evangelina Agbai, commended the Federal Government and the programme organizers for bringing such a life-changing initiative to Owan-West. She urged the participants to remain disciplined and focused in using their skills and capital to build sustainable enterprises.

“This is a golden opportunity. I urge all beneficiaries to take this seriously and ensure that the start-up capital is used for the purpose it was meant for building a business and empowering others,” she stated.

Beneficiaries who spoke at the event expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for the opportunity, pledging to make good use of both the training and the capital to improve their livelihoods.

The highlight of the closing ceremony featured group demonstrations of the products learned during the practical sessions and presentation of certificates to successful participants. Items produced during the exercise were also distributed among attendees.

The empowerment scheme is part of the Federal Government’s broader initiative to enhance local production, reduce unemployment, and promote entrepreneurship among women and youths across Nigeria.