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IBADAN – The Oyo State Government, through the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme, just concluded a three – day capacity-building training for youths on job creation and entrepreneurship, with participants urged to embrace entrepreneurship as a pathway to wealth creation, self-reliance and economic development.
The three-day training which was held at Pinnacle Hotel, Arapaja Road, Odo Ona Kekere, Ibadan, is part of the African Development Bank-funded SAPZ initiative aimed at equipping young people with entrepreneurial, business and financial skills required to establish and grow sustainable enterprises.
Speaking at the opening of the workshop, the State Project Coordinator of SAPZ, Mr Ajetunmobi Akinwumi, said the initiative was designed to address the growing challenge of youth unemployment by equipping participants with the knowledge and skills needed to become successful entrepreneurs and job creators.
Akinwumi noted that despite several government interventions, many young people still lacked the practical knowledge, entrepreneurial mindset and financial literacy needed to establish and sustain successful businesses.
He said: “Youth unemployment remains one of the most pressing socio-economic challenges facing Nigeria. Oyo State has a rapidly growing youth population, but the availability of formal employment has not kept pace with the demand.
“This training is therefore aimed at equipping participants with practical knowledge in entrepreneurship, business planning and financial management to enable them become employers of labour rather than job seekers.”
The coordinator said the programme was part of the state’s commitment to empowering young people with the skills required to drive innovation, enterprise development and economic growth.
According to him, the SAPZ programme seeks to create opportunities for youths, women and entrepreneurs by strengthening their capacity to build sustainable businesses and take advantage of emerging economic opportunities.
He explained that participants would receive practical training in entrepreneurship, business development, financial literacy, innovation, leadership, communication, business planning and enterprise management.
Akinwumi added that at the end of the workshop, participants were expected to strengthen their entrepreneurial capacity, improve their financial literacy, develop viable business ideas, and contribute meaningfully to economic growth and community development.
Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of Oluyole Local Government, Engr. Hakeem Olatunji, described the training as a foundation for successful entrepreneurship, stressing that knowledge remained the most valuable asset for anyone seeking to create wealth and employment.
According to him, government alone cannot provide jobs for the growing population, making it imperative for young people to acquire entrepreneurial skills capable of making them self-reliant.
“Without adequate knowledge, there is no way anyone can create jobs or become a successful entrepreneur. This capacity-building programme is equipping our youths with the knowledge required to establish businesses and become self-sustaining,” he said.
Olatunji urged participants to take full advantage of the opportunity, adding that entrepreneurship and innovation offered immense opportunities for economic growth and job creation.
“I believe government will also support them financially, but what matters most is the knowledge they are receiving here today. Knowledge is power, and it can transform them into employers of labour,” he added.
One of the participants, Bamigboye Tobi, a final-year student of the University of Ibadan, expressed optimism that the programme would enable him to expand his entrepreneurial aspirations.
Tobi said he travelled from the University of Ibadan to attend the workshop because of the opportunities it offered.
“I see this training as a great opportunity to become an employer of labour. I believe I will be equipped with the entrepreneurial and financial knowledge required to grow my business, and from what I have seen so far, I am confident I will leave with valuable knowledge that will positively impact my future,” he said.
The SAPZ programme is being implemented in Oyo State as part of broader efforts by the Federal Government, the African Development Bank and participating states to promote job creation, entrepreneurship and inclusive economic development.
