The Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) and Business Support Academy (BSA) are collaborating to train no fewer than 3,000 youths and women in mass skill acquisition.
The acting Director-General, FIIRO, Dr Yemisi Asagbra, said this at a news conference to unveil the five-day pilot scheme training for youths and women on Friday, in Lagos.
Asagbra said the theme of the training is “Empowerment and Investment Opportunity for Youths and Women: Post COVID-19 Industrial Revolution.”
She said that the programme was an entrepreneurship technology transfer training targeted at women and youths in post COVID -19 industrial revolution in the country.
Asagbra noted that the COVID-19 pandemic era had been a very traumatic time for many Nigerians, leading to unemployment, job losses and death.
She added that the training was to cushion the effects of the pandemic on the economic situation of the citizens and the national economy for overall prosperity.
According to her, due to the pandemic, a lot of jobs have been lost, a lot of youths have become unemployed and a lot of businesses have closed down.
“FIIRO and BSA also share the same passion with the Federal Government to strengthen Nigerian women and youths through acquisition of skills and provision of investment funds as an entrepreneurship development strategy.
“We have been the technology provider to the micro, small, medium and large scale industries in Nigeria in areas such as food and beverages, pulp and paper, textile, cement, ceramics, paint, soap and cosmetics and engineering to mention but a few.
“The institute has trained over 500,000 entrepreneurs and provided services to about 70 per cent of the SMEs operating in technology incubation centres all over the 36 states of the federation in different technologies. Thereby creating millions of jobs through direct and multiplier effect of these entrepreneurs.
“We have developed over 250 research and development technologies and have completely packaged about 100 of them that are ready for immediate commercialisation,” she said.
The Managing Director of BSA, Mr Kolawole Olohundare, said that the training was in line with the organisation’s 2025 vision targeted at creating two million jobs.
Olohundare said that participants would be trained in mechanised cassava processing, bread and confectioneries baking, fish and meat processing technology, cosmetics production technology, instant pounded yam flour technology and instant and non-instant plantain flour technology.
He listed other courses as fruits and vegetable processing technologies, edible mushroom production technology, electroplating and plug refurbishing and installation, among others.
He said that participants would be mentored on quick access to at least five million naira seed fund from the Youth Investment Fund, NISRAL fund and Bank of Industry loans.
“The benefits of this training are CAC registration, NAFDAC registration processing, exportation link, technical assistance support, online practical online with digital marketing and financial backup with single digit interest and collateral free loan.
“The choice of FIIRO as a strategic partner for this training is borne out of our conviction that enough products have been developed in line with international best practice for adoption by Entrepreneurs while facilities to handle them are also available.
“The academy has gone extra mile in configuring a well-balanced opportunity matrix to ensure Nigerian youth and women have access to permanent financial freedom and multiply fortunes for the economy.”
Olohundare said the academy has also secured partnership with some foreign technology developers from China and Indonesia to train interested participants on alternative energy sources in solar technology.
“Our participants will benefit bountifully from this initiative as they will be able to process their products at cheaper cost and enjoying higher margins.
“There is latent demand for alternative energy from the growing population of Nigeria who face the dilemma of poor electricity supply and rising fuel price.”
Olohundare said the training would be monumental in many respects as it targets every Nigerian youth desirous of financial empowerment and breakthrough.
“In actual fact, agro-allied businesses have greater export potential in the international market if they are well trained to adhere to standards set by the authorities in such countries.
“This capacity building training will surely expose our trainees to such trade secrets that will make them play and win sustainable spaces in the international market.”
He urged Nigerian youths to take advantage of these massive opportunities presented to them as a post COVID-19 intervention package by the Federal Government and complementary roles of the private sector players.
The training will commence on April 12 to April 17, at FIIRO office, Oshodi.