- US Consulate Partners Firms to Lift SMEs
The United States Consulate in Lagos, in collaboration with Field of Skills and Dreams VTE Academy has reinforced its commitment to the Nigerian economy in its effort to encourage and support emerging entrepreneurs.
As part of its endeavours to boost the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector which is believed to be important to the growth of the economy, the consulate, as a follow-up to a two-day training conference organised for emerging entrepreneurs earlier in the year, put together a business and entrepreneurship mentoring programme for 65 beneficiaries of the exercise.
According to it, the essence of the activity was to monitor and evaluate participants’ progress and achievements so far, while also gaining insights into the challenges hindering the growth of their businesses.
The follow-up exercise was anchored by prominent business leaders, financing institutions, entrepreneurship faculty and trainers, including the Academic Director, Owner-Manager Programme at the Lagos Business School, Dr. Henrietta Onwuegbuzie, and Chief Executive Officer of Field of Skills and Dreams VTE Academy, Mrs. Omowale Ogunrinde who tutored and enlightened participants with practical guidance on how to transform their businesses and drive profitability.
Speaking on the occasion, United States Consul General, F. John Bray renewed the US government’s commitment in enhancing skills and capacity of budding Nigerian entrepreneurs.
Bray said, “I made a commitment to you in March on behalf of the US government that we would do our best to support you on your journey to establishing successful businesses. I am pleased to learn that some of you have achieved a certain level of success since March. I am equally pleased that all of you here today, like the more established Nigerian entrepreneurs, are dynamic, forward-looking, and committed to the economic success of Nigeria.”
Also speaking, Public Affairs Officer, United States Consulate General Lagos, Ms. Darcy Zotter, stated that the follow-up training became expedient in order to equip the entrepreneurs with enhanced set of skills and networks to help them as they strive to achieve business success.
“I am pleased to see that many of the emerging entrepreneurs we trained in March have returned. We know that entrepreneurs can be made – and aren’t necessarily born. Entrepreneurial skills can be taught. The process of learning and honing their entrepreneurial skills is on-going. We hope that when they finish today, they will have a stronger network of supportive friends and mentors,” Zotter stated.
