SURE-P trains 22, 000 graduates on SMEs in Nigeria

www.odogwublog.com reports that the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P has trained over 22, 000 youths on Small and Medium Enterprise,

SMEs across the country while over 2,000 have benefited from other schemes in the SURE-P programmes.

 Speaking during the 3- day orientation training for interns and firms’ representatives at Marble Arch Hotel, Awka, Anambra state, the Director, Graduate Internship Scheme, Mr. Peter Papka said the scheme is aimed at providing the unemployed and underemployed graduate youths with internship opportunities that will expose them to skills and acquisition.

 Mr. Papka further disclosed that since inception of the scheme, many firms and graduates have joined the scheme, adding that graduates are securing opportunities to develop their employability and business acumen which he said had attracted interests from various firms across the country.

 “Out of the graduates that have served out their one year term, some have moved on to other employment, while others have been employed by the firms themselves. Firms are joining this partnership everyday and are bringing different experiences. As a result of this success, the country is witnessing the growth of many SMEs and cooperative societies due to increase in manpower”

 “22, 000 graduates have been deployed with 60 percent males, 31 percent females and 1 percent vulnerable. Over 2000 have exited the scheme with over 500 having secured jobs and some of the graduates have won YouWin grants to expand their business” he said.

 In his remark, the Vice Chairman SURE-P, Anambra state, Mr. Michael Mbata appreciated the efforts of the federal government in ensuring better future for the teaming youths of the country through SURE-P.

 Mr. Mbata said that before the scheme, it was very difficult for graduates to secure jobs, but with the inception of SURE-P, there is great improvement in job creation through the efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan.

 He urged the participants of the orientation training to make good use of the training to achieve the better goals of the programme while commending the organizers of the orientation training and pleaded for more capacity building seminars.

Meanwhile, over fifty interns representing their various companies participated in the  orientation training.