Would-be entrepreneurs have been urged to get requisite financial literacy, business and vocational skills before they embark on any business venture.
This charge was given by the Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Dr Umaru Dikko Radda, at the opening of the Vocational and Entrepreneurship Skills Training (VEST) which began at the agency’s headquarters yesterday.
Represented by the Director Policy and Advocacy & Coordination at the agency, Mr Monday Ewans, he said when entrepreneurs acquired necessary skills, the failure rate of businesses would reduce, adding that SMEDAN was established to provide such skills. “If you take your time to acquire information, knowledge and skills you will be able to withstand challenges in the business terrain,” he said.
The Coordinator of the Vocational and Entrepreneurship Skills Training, Moshood Lawal, said the training was targeted at both those who wanted to start their own businesses and those who wanted to retire. “It is expected to give them necessary skills to manage their own business successfully even after leaving service.”
One of the participants, Ochudo Ayi, said the training had been enlightening.
“I have always been interested in business but I got to learn many other things that I did not know about. We were taught to seek knowledge in whatever business we want to go into and specialise in it; that we must know about our enterprise and know what it takes to be an entrepreneur.
“I am an architect and I hope to go into the manufacturing of paint soon,” she said,
Participants at the training were drawn from the Ministry of Trade and Investment, National Universities Commission and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
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