Nasarawa Government, Interweave International Train Youth on Self Reliance

The Nasarawa State Government has partnered with Interweave Solutions International to train youth on empowerment and be self-reliant.

While declaring the 5-Day training open in Lafia, the Nasarawa state capital, Governor Abdullahi Sule said the training aims to equip fifty participants drawn from across the State, with essential skills and knowledge to improve their livelihoods and access start-up financial grants.

He said the training would enhance the socio-economic well-being of low-income earners in the state.

Governor Sule, represented by the State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Kwanta Yakubu, emphasized the State Government’s commitment to empowering its citizens, particularly low-income earners, through initiatives that promote self-reliance and economic independence.

“This is a counterpart funding programme between the Nasarawa State Government and reputable International Organisation, Interweave Solutions International, with global headquarters in the State of Utah, United States of America.

“I am here on behalf of the Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, whom I am sure will be here during the closing ceremony of this important empowerment training programme to issue certificates of participation, grants and further express what his administration thinks about laudable projects like this.

“The Nasarawa State Government is proud to collaborate with a reputable International Organisation like Interweave Solutions to bring about positive change in the lives of our low-income earners.

“This programme is a proof of our administration’s commitment to empowering our citizens and providing them with the necessary tools they need to break the cycle of poverty and thrive.

“This training programme has been carefully designed to address the specific needs of low-income earners in the State, and we, together with our international partners, are invested in your success, and we believe that every one of you has the potential to become a catalyst for positive change in your communities.”

He urged participants to take full advantage of the training programme which covers various aspects of entrepreneurship, financial management, skills acquisition to become possessors of Master’s of Business (MBS) certificates and access financial grants to start-up their own businesses.

In her remarks, State Director of Interweave Solutions International, Mrs. Louise Gyunka, praised the administration of Governor Abdullahi Sule for being transparent, accountable and proactive in taking its citizens from poverty to prosperity, describing the Governor’s policies as people-oriented and society-transforming.

She commended the efforts of the State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Kwanta Yakubu, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Adamu Alhassan, and Staff of the Ministry for ensuring the successful commencement of the pilot training programme.

While pledging her Organization’s commitment to supporting the Governor and State Government to actualizing its lofty goals for the people, Mrs. Gyunka disclosed that Interweave is contributing an initial sum of Five Hundred Million Naira(N500,000,000.00) as grants to the beneficiaries, with the expectations to increase the amount, depending on the business performances of the beneficiaries within a stipulated period.

Participants are grouped into ten members who make up a business cooperative, and work as a team to initiate a business proposal to qualify them for accessing funding support in tranches under supervision and monitoring by the grant-giving organisation, in conjunction with the Nasarawa State Government.

The pilot scheme is a microcosm of the major training programme which will cater for 3,500 participants drawn from the 147 Electoral Wards of the State.

The five-day programme, which started on Tuesday, will climax on Saturday, 15th March, 2025, with Governor Abdullahi Sule expected to issue Certificates and Grants to participants on the closing day.

Highpoint of the opening ceremony was data capturing of participants which was electronically transmitted to the global headquarters of Interweave in America for onward supervision.