BENIN CITY – The Edo State Government in partnership with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the Society for the Empowerment of Young Persons (SEYP) has concluded a six-day training programme on entrepreneurial and financial skills for persons with disabilities, survivors of gender-based violence and petty traders.
The training, which held at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA), drew participants from Egor, Oredo, Ovia South-West, Ovia North-East, Orhionmwon, Ikpoba-Okha and Uhunmwode Local Government Areas of the State.
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Chief Bisi Idaomi, represented by the Director of Women Affairs, Mrs. Florence Nwaozor, said that the programme was designed to provide participants with practical business skills and deeper knowledge of financial planning and income generation strategies.
She commended the participants for their enthusiasm and urged them to put the training into practice with discipline and confidence.
Idaomi reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Monday Okpebholo to the empowerment of marginalized groups across the State, noting that the initiative aligns with government’s agenda to build a more equitable society where every citizen has access to tools and opportunities to improve their quality of life.
GIZ Adviser for Employment Promotion and Migration, Mr. Joel Zombou, praised the creativity displayed by participants, stressing that entrepreneurship is about creating value, building sustainable enterprises and contributing to community development, not just making profit.
Executive Director of SEYP, Omo-Ero Victoria, delivered lectures on foundational entrepreneurial skills, including idea generation, macro-screening, prototyping and target audience identification.
She also emphasized effective communication, strong customer relationships, networking, branding and creative marketing.
On financial literacy, she highlighted budgeting, saving, record-keeping and risk management, urging participants to distinguish between needs and wants for long-term stability.
The training featured interactive activities such as group work, storytelling, psychosocial games and question-and-answer sessions aimed at building teamwork, communication and relationship skills.
One of the beneficiaries, Mercy Omodia, described the programme as motivating and impactful.
She particularly lauded the practical sessions, noting that they enabled participants to combine ideas and create innovative outcomes.
