The Advisor of Entrepreneurship and Job Creation of GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft Fῡr Internationale Zusammenarbeit), Babafemi Oyediran, has said that over 30,000 students in 330 secondary schools gained entrepreneurship skills through the Students Entrepreneurship Activity Hub (SEA – Hub) in Nigeria.

Oyediran further disclosed that out of those trained, 60 per cent were female; across 66 local councils, the training was held.

The advisor further stated that over 342 secondary schools already have active SEA – Hub Clubs in 12 states with Plateau State playing a very significant role without any support from GIZ.

Oyediran also pointed out that SEA–Hub was independently piloted in Oyo State without GIZ, as over 300 SEA–Hub graduates are now running their personal businesses which translated to one to two jobs created per graduate leading to over 600 jobs created directly.

In order not to be left out of the scheme, he said over 700 teachers also keyed into the project, adding that the future of the SEA – Hub is very bright.

He explained that: “Joy Amos, a graduate of Government Secondary School, Chamyap, Jos North Local Council, Plateau State, joined the Students Entrepreneurship Activity Hub (SEA – Hub) in 2017 and graduated in 2019.

“Her participation in SEA–Hub activities was the turning point in her life. Joy now owns a beauty salon in Jos where she has 10 employees working with her. She never thought she could further her education after secondary school due to a lack of funds.

“Today, Joy is an undergraduate student at the University of Jos and her education is completely funded from the proceeds of her business. She plans to open new branches and employ more people soon.”

Also speaking, a staff of GIZ, Tope Salami, said that the project is a sure way of securing the future of Nigerians to be self–reliant as they prepare business opportunities for the people.

A business expert and one-time adviser on business to the Plateau State government, Dr. Ezekiel Gomos, announced that every year, he would train and mentor five young entrepreneurs free of charge, adding that the state government will introduce SEA–Hub in all secondary schools as part of the curricular activities.