By Uzo Ugwunze
Youths undergoing training in the 1 Youth 2 Skills Entrepreneurship Scheme sponsored by the Anambra State Government through the Ministry of Youths Development have been tasked to be creative and innovative as they market their products and services in order to meet acceptable international standards and maximize profits.
The Trainees were taught on the importance of creativity and being innovative in business during the Entrepreneurial Development Institute (EDI) One Youth Two Skills Solution Phase 2 program for Batch A Stream 1&2 Powered by the Anambra State Government in collaboration with UNIZIK Business School, Nnamdi Azikiwe University,Awka.
Speaking at Idemili North LGA Secretariat Hall Ogidi, on the theme: ‘Raising Smart Entrepreneurs’ an EDI Facilitator from DUTOCH Empowerment Foundation, Mrs Ifeoma Onugu emphasized the need for the training to enable the participants distinguish themselves from local artisans and craftsmen to entrepreneurs who were willing to carve a niche for themselves in the business world and become successful.
According to Mrs Onugu, Entrepreneurs think smart, it is not just about hardwork but hardwork with smart work. Entrepreneurs make legit income .After acquiring the basic skills you came to learn you need to think outside the box. Be creative, smart, innovative to be able to beat competitors in the market who had been existing before you floated your business.
“Some principles of Marketing which you should know include Products, pricing, place, proximity, promotion, people, process, customer behavior, physical evidence”.
“Every product should have a target, ask yourself what is the classification of the market target. It is not always from top to bottom. It could be a certain age group, social class, economic status, gender, academic class,etc”.
“In pricing, your target market can determine the price. Some need turnover marginal profit why others need 1 digit marginal profit, etc. Promotion of goods and services is still part of creating awareness about what you are selling. People needs to know what you can offer.
“Place is wherever you stay and do business.Proximity does not really matter because of the advent of social media. You may not have a physical shop or place but an online shop or platform from which you market your products”, said Mrs Onugu.
She further encouraged the trainees not to despise the opportunity given to them to become somebody in life by His Excellency, Prof Chukwuma Soludo who initiated the program to take youths off the streets and empower them economically.
“For every youths that is taken off the streets, Soludo is saving a soul from crime, criminality and its consequences. Putting food in their table and securing the person or his or her dependants economically.
” When someone has a skill he may not have the time to follow bad gang, do drugs, yahoo yahoo and some other social vices because he is engaged both mentally and physically. I want to commend Prof Soludo for investing so much on human capital development to secure the future of the Youths of Anambra State,” Mrs Onugu said.
An EDI Electrical/CCTV & Solar Installation trainee, Charles Chidebere Nwonuma a native of Azia, Ihiala LGA but resides at Obosi, INLGA eulogized Governor Soludo for investing on the youths saying that the 1 Youth 2 Skills initiative have been a huge blessing to serious minded people not just young people saying that many have become gainfully self employed and even employers of labor through the Empowerment Program.
” This EDI Training began Today, Tuesday February 18,2025 although we did accreditation last week Thursday and Friday. We were told the Entrepreneurship seminars may last for two weeks. In the last four months, I have been able to learn Electrical wiring, CCTV camera and Solar power installation. I am very happy that Soludo is making Anambra state successful by making her youths successful through this skill acquisition program,” said Nwonuma.