Niger, NGOs train 10,000 youths on financial literacy

From Umar Dankano, Yola

Niger Government says it will train no fewer than 10,000 youths, particularly young women, on financial literacy and entrepreneurship skills.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports in Minna on Saturday that the training is in partnership with two NGOs; Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) and MasterCard Foundation.

At the inauguration of the online training tagged: ‘Transforming Nigerian Youth Programme (TNY)’, Mrs Hauwa Bako, Special Adviser to Niger Governor on Social Investment Programme, said the programme would equip youths with entrepreneurial business management skills.

Bako said that the programme was aimed at enhancing young entrepreneurs’ mindsets for transformation, employability and management capacity development.

“The programme is designed for mostly young female entrepreneurs and aspiring businesswomen offering both online and in-person training sessions to foster entrepreneurial skills to succeed.

“The programme provides 60 per cent online and 40 per cent offline training, targeting 80 per cent young female and 20 per cent male entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 35,” she said.

According to her, the online training is open to all Niger residents, and interested persons can register via the link: bit.ly/tny25niger.

She said benefits of the programme include business growth and mentorship, business registration and branding support, job placement and entrepreneurship linkages and certification.

In her remarks, the state’s Commissioner for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME), Mrs Elizabeth Shaba, noted that “the programme package does not include starter packs, business grants or loans.”(NAN)