By Ankeli Emmanuel (In Sokoto State)
The Small Scale Enterprises Department (SSE) of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) began a 5 day Basic Business Training for 65 school leavers and artisans in Sokoto State.
Speaking in her opening remarks, the Department Head, Hafsat Abubakar, said NDE will always carry out it's mandate with vigor and commitment to the growth of Nigeria.
In his keynote address to the 65 trainees, the Director General of NDE, Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fipko, said it goes beyond having business but effective managerial skills are most needed as backbone of any successful business.
Fipko who was represented by the Sokoto State Coordinator of NDE, Muhammad Umar Sanda Gusau, said the essence of the BBT is to halt the menace of business failure orchestrated by lack of managerial skills.
While noting that artisans are major contributors to national economy, Umar Sanda Gusau, said they promote flexible labour market, absorb retrenched workers and stimulate productive activities.
""It is equally pertinent to note that most developed nations of the world did not achieve economic prosperity because of large corporations that exist therein but through the small scale businesses based in the informal sector that provide employment to the majority of their populace.
"It is for this reasons that the NDE encourages the formation of small businesses through its Enterprise Creation Schemes and supports their success through provision of business management trainings", Gusau noted.
Earlier, Malam Lukman Jibril, the Head of Human Resources, appealed to participants to see themselves as very lucky to have been selected out of the over six million people in Sokoto State.
"'Out of the 28 States in Nigeria, only 18 are selected for this training and Sokoto happened to be one of the 18. Therefore, you should count yourselves lucky and dedicate your time to every bit of what you are going to be taught as it's going to be of great assistance to you and the nation at large if put into practice". NNL.
