The Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) and the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (Lagos CARES) have empowered about 5,000 indigents with management skills to boost their businesses.
The beneficiaries were also given grants above N100,000 depending on their type of business.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the beneficiaries were trained under the ongoing Livelihood Support Delivery Platform in Lagos.
The training was held simultaneously across five locations in the state, including Ibeju-Lekki, Alimosho, Badagry, Ojo and Somolu.
The beneficiaries were trained in skills such as book keeping, time and money management, among others.
Speaking at the Agege venue, Mrs Oluwatoyin Salami, Head, Livelihood Delivery Platform, Lagos CARES, WAPA, said the programme was aimed at eradicating poverty and to strengthen Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
Salami who described SMEs as the bedrock of the nation’s economy noted that the beneficiaries were expected to grow their businesses with the skills acquired.
“Previously, we’ve been able to impact over 3,000 beneficiaries and for this period, we are looking at 5,000 beneficiaries.
“Out of the 5,000, we have 3,300 beneficiaries right on the ground,” she said.
Mrs Bukky Femi-Ajala, Facilitator at Women Development Centre, Agege, said the training would equip the beneficiaries with skills needed to manage their businesses.
Femi-Ajala also a business coach and entrepreneur added that the beneficiaries would be empowered with business management skills.
One of the beneficiaries, Aratu Bamidele-Ige, from Ojokoro area of the state, said the training had equipped her with the much-needed skills for her business.
Bamidele-Ige, who is also a pastry vendor, said she would use the money to expand her business.
“I have learnt a lot from this training; I am very neat with my business and I believe if I do what the facilitator said it will help my business grow,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Olamilekan Sonde, an aluminum manufacturer, said he would use the grant to acquire more equipment for his business to boost productivity.
“There are some tools that are spoilt, like some machines that are heavy, so I’ll use the money from here to buy the little ones I can l get so that when I get jobs I can use the tools,” he said.