In 10 years, AEA empowers 73,450 entrepreneurs

Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA), in 10 years, has empowered 73,450 individuals to establish business ventures, out which 90 per cent are youths.

The Managing Director of the Agency, Arabi Tukur, stated this when he received the Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Guy Ryder, in Abuja.

Ryder visited the AEA as part of his itinerary in Nigeria, during the Global Youth Employment Forum.

Tukur said the Agency is determined to add its quota to accelerating business development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), through designing and implementing programmes that would stimulate business growth.

“In over 10 years, we have sustained entrepreneurs, with critical business support such as business clinics, access to finance, counselling, sensitisation, workspace and market linkage,” Tukur added.

He further explained that the Agency was focusing on youths and women, adding that they have trained over 800 youths and women in ICT, and skill acquisition, covering shoes production, cosmetology and a host of other skills.

“We have supported 31,100 rural entrepreneurs in 160 communities with capacity building, designed and expand grants programme to support them with work tools, share new technology,” he added.

Responding, Ryder commended the management for keeping the vision of promoting business entrepreneurship, and creating jobs in the process for youths and women.

He also expressed delight over the Agency’s programmes, which target young businessmen and women, adding that ILO would continue to collaborate with it to develop capacity of Nigerians.

He therefore called on AEA to scale up what their programmes to benefit many families, saying all hands must be on deck to support effective entrepreneurship development in the country.

On his part, Director-General, National Automotive Design and Development Council, Jelani Aliyu, lauded AEA for setting agenda for the empowerment of young Nigerians by harnessing their technological potential.