Ekiti State is set to engage young entrepreneurs to expand the scope of business amongst its people. The wife of the Governor, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi made this known during the state’s enterprise week,held at the weekend in Ado, to showcase fabric works.
The new drive aims to ignite enterprise passion among a people previously noted for academic excellence. In line with the current government development agenda, entrepreneurship is seen as key to boosting local economy as well as improving on the state’s standing in present day Nigeria.
According to Mrs. Fayemi, “We are doing this entrepreneurship week to showcase Ekiti locally-made fabrics and tailoring. We have seen that Ekiti people are amazing; we have all these materials produced here in the state. The Aso-oke was made by the local Association of Aso-Oke Weavers and the ‘Adire’ material was made by students of the Ekiti State University (EKSU)”.
While around 5,000 participants were drawn from the state’s 16 local government areas, 2,000 among them will be sponsored to attend the Lagos Fashion Week taking place in December. Also some select few will attend the London Fashion show in 2020.
The administration seeks to expose its entrepreneurs to new opportunities, funding, and a wider market that would help them manifest their potentials on a grander scale.
This new path, if passionately pursuit, is bound to stimulate economic prosperity among a people who, while excelling academically, have largely lagged in the areas of commerce and enterprise.