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FG empowers 300 ex-militants with SME kits

By on April 13, 2013

The Federal Government, through the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, yesterday in Lagos, empowered about 300 ex-Niger Delta militants, who benefited from the various skill acquisition programmes of the Amnesty office.

The beneficiaries were given equipments necessary for them to start Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs), even as the ex-militants were warned against selling the equipments, or letting out their shops, which are against the agreement they signed with the Amnesty office.

The materials included cement for those who were trained on building materials, generators, fridges, flat screen televisions, gas cookers and laptops. Other are electric welding machines, safety helmets, safety boots, welding machines

Addressing journalists at the event to showcase the tools for distribution, Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku, said this is the first in the series of empowerment programmes aimed at assisting trained and equipped young men and women set up and grow small businesses.

Represented by the Technical Adviser to Amnesty Office, Larry Pepple, Kuku said the empowerment programme is to prepare beneficiaries to become part of the new generation of entrepreneur, besides laying a solid foundation to break the cyclic nature of poverty, and contribute to national economic growth.

He added that this empowerment has further moved Nigeria closer to the realisation of the number foremost of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – eradicating extreme poverty and hunger by 2015, adding that the programme is in line with President Goodluck Jonathan transformation agenda and vision 20.2020.

He noted that the expansion and growth of SME sector of any economy contributes to greater utilisation of local raw materials, encouragement of rural development, mobilisation of local savings, generation of employment and linkages with bigger industries.

According to him, ”the SMEs form the bedrock of industrialisation and technological advancement. No wonder organisations like Microsoft Google, Face book, Sizzlers, Jevink band many others started by individual entrepreneurs have grown to be some of the most notable ,adored and respected international and national brands”

He called on the delegates to make good use of the opportunity given by the Federal Government through the Amnesty programme to better their lives.

Pepple disclosed that over 13,000 delegates have been deployed to local and foreign training centres for various skill acquisition programme and formal education, adding that over 2,500 delegates have also been placed in higher institution of learning in local and foreign colleges and universities.

He also revealed that over 4,608 delegates are currently undergoing various forms of skills acquisition training in Nigeria and other parts of the world ranging from marine, heavy duty operators, welding, diving, agriculture and others.

High point of the event was the unveiling of the equipment that would be distributed to the delegates, who have been trained in specific areas of trade and skills acquisition programmes.

 

 

[Daily Independent]