By Ahmed Attahiru Gusau
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, has organized Talent Hunt in Fashion, Arts and crafts for 150 participants across the North West.
The Director-General, Dikko Radda made the disclosure on Thursday in Gusau during the official closing ceremony of a three day, 2020 SMEDAN Talent Hunt in Fashion, Arts and crafts, organized by the agency, in partnership with Zamfara State Zakkat and Endowment Board in the State.
According to him, the Federal government has earmarked over N75 billion for the support of small and medium scale businesses in the country by Nigerian youths with a view to enable them become self reliant.
“Only Lagos, Kano and Abia states will get larger share of the scheme considering their population density”.
The DG Said, this year SMEDAN Talent Hunt is Theme: “Breaking Covid-19 Pandemic Conventional Constraints to Spark Innovation”, which he said it was introduced by the Federal Government to develop local Craft and talent among local Craft professionals and improved made in Nigeria product.
“The programme provided a comprehensive training package for 150 participants out of which 10 ideas in each of the category of fashion and arts/Craft were selected”.
He explained that after pitching, first, second and third among 10 will be given financial grant of N500,000, N300,000and N200,000 each to support their businesses.
According to him, the aims of the scheme is to empower the participants through further capacity development, linkages and visibility via e-marketing Program and online market and trade fairs both local and international respectively.
He commended the Zamfara state Governor, Bello Muhammad for hosting the event with enabling environment for the implementation of the scheme in the state.
In a goodwill message, the governor, who was represented by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, said part of the state government efforts to boost the morals of the entire people of the state,
“Zamfara State is empowering 2,000 women every months with cash grant of N20,000 each to form their petty business,” he said.
