Ogun, International Partners To Empower 100,000 SMSEs, Youths

The Ogun State government plans to train 100,000 SMEs, especially youths, on emerging tech for the digital economy.

This would be accomplished through Get Funded Africa Technologies (GFAT), in collaboration with Microsoft, Google, and Meta.

Senator Shuaib Salisu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Cyber Security, delivered a keynote address at the official launch of the training, titled “Gateway Skills Programme,” at OgunTechHub in Abeokuta. He stated that the empowerment would provide an opportunity for SMSEs and youths who want to be self-sufficient to gain relevant technology skills that will enable them to upgrade to digital marketing.

Senator Salisu, who expressed optimism that the initiative would improve Nigeria’s economic position, stated that the state had the potential to steer the programme towards its outcome.

Mr. Dayo Abiodun, Special Adviser on ICT, also spoke, saying the state government’s partnership with Microsoft, Google, and others was a deliberate attempt to expose small business owners and young graduates to the hidden benefits of the digital economy, and he encouraged beneficiaries to get registered, trained, certified, and start working immediately, among other opportunities.

Mr. Adebowale Omololu, Co-founder of GFAT, explained that the programme was designed for SMSEs and young graduates in Ogun to be the first beneficiaries before other states, providing them with the necessary support to develop careers in ICT, access finance, and mentorship to grow their businesses, citing the digital economy as a pathway for thriving entrepreneurship.