The Ekiti State Government has reiterated its commitment towards ensuring that youths in the state are given a new lease of life by investing in no fewer than 2,000 of them.

The State Commissioner for Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr David Olusoga, gave the indication on Monday while briefing journalists on the maiden edition of the Ekiti Entrepreneurship Week commencing in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on Thursday.

He said the programme was centred on youths cut across the 16 local government areas of the state, adding that about 5,000 youths with interest in entrepreneurship would be participating in the programme.

The essence of the programme, according to the commissioner, is to inspire the youths by unleashing their latent entrepreneurial skills and ideas for the benefit of Ekiti in particular and Nigeria in general.

He added that the goal is to motivate youths into a pool of individuals who would conceive business ideas that will create employment opportunities and great wealth thereby making them employers of labour instead of being dependent on government jobs that are not readily available.

The commissioner stated that the programme would show the world that Ekiti is a conducive environment for investments. He said the state is ready to domesticate Global Entrepreneurship week in the state as Governor Kayode Fayemi has consistently declared its interest in the growth and sustainable development of entrepreneurs based in the state.

Olusoga highlighted the features of the entrepreneurship week to include among others, re-igniting the spirit of entrepreneurship and rebuilding the almost dying commerce and industry in the state; focusing on the garment and fashion industry and showcasing Ekiti fashion signature to the world; youth empowerment through capacity building business solution; promote interactions among fashion designers, tailors, trainers, merchants and beauticians for integrated business links and building a hub around the industry and enhance dignity in labour and productivity.

As part of the corporate endeavours to ensure that youth get it right, the commissioner said successful entrepreneurs have been invited to mentor, train and inspire the youth.

He explained further that the week with theme “Enterprise and Creativity meet Opportunity” would ignite the expected spirit of entrepreneurship in our youth to enable them meet their potential and achieve their life goals.

One of the successful Ekiti indigene in the fashion industry, Mrs Funmi Ajila-Ladipo, a native of Ado-Ekiti who spoke at the event, said she had been in the industry for 36 years and have been able to grow a lot of very young people who have all made their marks in the industry.

Mrs Ajila-Ladipo used the opportunity to advise the youths to develop attitude of wealth creation by being enterprising because a lot of people are making in the fabrics and other industries.

She assured that Ekiti is a ready place for entrepreneurs because industries would easily grow in the state adding that instead of going into fraud, we can help them to develop that passion that they have in doing some things that would improve their lives.

•PHOTO: L-R: Group Managing Director, Fountain Holding Ltd, Mr Seyi Ayeleso; President, Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN), Mrs Funmi Ajila-Ladipo; Commissioner for Investment, Trade and Industries, Mr Olusoga David; and Commissioner for Information, Tourism and Values Orientation, Aare Muyiwa Olumilua; during the press briefing on Ekiti Entrepreneurship Week 2019, in Ado-Ekiti . . . on Monday

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