The Niger State Government has equipped 3,000 young entrepreneurs with financial literacy and business management skills as part of a capacity-building drive to empower youths across the state.

Speaking at the second batch of the three-day training in Minna on Tuesday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Social Investment Programme (SIP), Hajiya Hauwa Bako, said the initiative was organised in partnership with the MasterCard Foundation and the Enterprise Development Centre.

Bako explained that the programme, tagged “Transforming Nigerian Youth (TNY)”, was launched in March with the goal of training 10,000 youths—particularly women aged 18 to 35.

According to her, the training is being delivered in batches, with 2,000 young entrepreneurs already trained online and nearly 1,000 physically in the first round. She said the programme aims to shift participants from the informal to the formal business sector while giving them market access.

She noted that 50 First Class graduates, trained in May as Business Development Service Providers, are already supporting startups and existing small businesses. Bako commended Governor Umaru Bago for prioritising human capital development, especially for women and youths.

Alhaji Shehu Bwari, Coordinator for Entrepreneurship at the Ministry for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, described the programme as one of the most impactful initiatives in the state’s recent history, noting its potential to produce tangible results.

Project Coordinator at the Enterprise Development Centre, Mr Yusuf Christopher, said participants would also benefit from three months of mentorship and business registration support.

Some beneficiaries, including Fatima Abdullahi and Fatima Hamza, expressed gratitude, saying the training had given them the knowledge and confidence to grow their businesses and aim for long-term success.