The Abia state ministry of Digital Economy/Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union (EU), have conducted a two-day intensive training on digital marketing and ease of doing business for Abia youths and women.
The training for women and youth-led businesses, was held in Aba, the commercial city of the state on November 28 and 29, 2023.
Speaking to the media the Special Assistant to Abia state governor, Dr Alex Otti on Digital Economy, Chibuzor Elizabeth Chijioke, noted that the training was to equip business owners with digital literacy and help them grow their businesses and also reach a global audience.
She revealed that all participants of the training will be enrolled into the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NGCARES) to enable them get grants to fund their businesses.
Chijioke added that there will be follow up training to ensure that the participates get full knowledge of digital economy and SME.
“We will continue digital economy literacy training; we will continue helping businesses and making sure that there is ease of doing business in Abia state and helping them access the global market” she assured.
Speaking to the media, some of the participants which include; Marvelous Major, Nneka Anthonia Samuel, Ojukwu Glory, and others described the training as intensive and engaging while lauding the Abia state government, UNDP and EU (the sponsors) for such opportunity.
The participants were trained on; Social media marketing, usage of internet, cyber-crime, use of AI in doing business, among others.
Speaking, Ojoms Sandra Smile a digital skills trainer c*m digital media marketing expert, noted that the training became imperative for business owners in Abia state to level up with the global marketing space.
She called for further training to consolidate what the trainees have learnt.
“There is need for an upgrade course. It is important that business owners learn how to fuse in technologies into their products to maximize their profits” Smile stated.
She called on business owners to embrace technology and the digital space, adding that “the possibilities in the digital space is endless; there is literally no business that cannot thrive on the digital space”.
In his vote of thanks, the Commissioner for Digital Economy and SMES in the state, Mathew Ekwuribe, represented by Chibuzor Elizabeth Chijioke applauded the commitment of the UNDP and EU in ensuring digital literacy among Abians.
The Commissioner noted that the Abia state government led by Dr Alex Otti, is unwavering in ensuring that there is growth in sectors that are integral to the development of the state and it’s citizens.
He hinted that the state government has plans to launch a comprehensive initiative to empower women and youth-led businesses in the state.
“Today, I am thrilled to share our plans for women-owned and youth-led businesses. Recognizing the pivotal role, they play in our economic landscape; the state government is set to launch a comprehensive initiative aimed at empowering and uplifting these essential contributors to our society. We understand that empowering women and supporting the youth is not just a pathway to economic growth but a catalyst for sustainable development.
In tandem with our commitment to this cause, I am excited to announce the empowerment of all beneficiaries of this program with an ongoing World Bank NG-CARES program—an initiative tailored to further support women-owned businesses and empower our dynamic youth. This program is designed to provide a structured platform for participants with grants for start-ups and existing businesses, access resources, and capitalize on the opportunity that will propel their businesses to new heights.
Our vision is clear, and our strategies are robust. The government is steadfast in its mission to create an enabling environment for businesses owned by women and led by the youth to flourish. We believe in the boundless potential that resides within these groups and are committed to unlocking every opportunity for their success” he said.
