The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is organising skills acquisition training programmes for Micro, Small and Medium scale Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Niger/Delta region and has called on MSMEs in the region to apply for the training.
The NDDC says it is organising the training following the success of the previous programmes, therefore, it intends to further build the capacity of some identified MSMEs from across the region that “are determined to compete favourably in today’s global economy.”
According to NDDC, the entrepreneurship training programme aims to identify viable businesses in the MSME category from all nine states of the region, and consequently, build their capacity “and thereafter provide necessary supports and enabling environment for their growth and competitiveness in today’s global markets.”
The commission says the nature of support would be determined by the business plan that will be developed by each participating entrepreneur during the training.
“It needs to be emphasized here that there is need to diversify and strengthen the economies of the Niger Delta states and make them less dependent on the oil and gas sector. Therefore only entrepreneurs outside the oil and gas sector are encouraged to apply,” the commission said in a written statement.
Entrepreneurs in the Niger/Deltal region who are in the following sectors: agriculture, ICT, manufacturing and processing, entertainment and hospitality, commerce and trade as well as professional services, among others, are encouraged to apply.
To be eligible for the programme, NDDC says that entrepreneurs’ businesses (existing or soon to be registered) must be legitimate (that is they must be involved in illegal activities) and must be duly registered under the laws of the federal Republic of Nigeria.
Also, the entrepreneur(s) promoting the business i.e. sole proprietor(s), partners or directors must be from one of the Niger Delta states and the business must be dully registered with the relevant Inland Revenue (tax) authorities.
In addition to the aforementioned training programmes, the commission says it also intends to train Niger Deltans to acquire up to date skills in different trades.
“By so doing, the commission would have created a pool of skilled workforce who are self-reliant and capable of training and employing other Niger Deltans,” NDDC says.
The added programmes are: welding and fabrication, furniture making and wood work, catering and confectionary, food processing, home management, modern printing technology, fashion design and tailoring, computer technology/programming, entertainment industry, solar power maintenance and maritime technology.
To apply for the programme, interested applicants are asked to visit the official web portal and select any skill of interest and fill the application form as applicable.
“Application will only be received online through the NDDC web portal and the applicant is expected to complete one form only as multiple applications will attract automatic disqualification.
Only selected candidates will be contacted and they will be required to produce original copies of their educational certificates, Local Government identification certificates etc. before the final selection,” says.
Applications deadline is October 15, 2017.
