Chilo-Offiah and Enugu innovative programmes that keep Nigerians talking

September 30, 2021

3.3 min readCategories: Starnews Editorial

In the complete understanding that business enterprises should take the lead in solving environmental issues, the Special Adviser to the Government of Enugu State on SME Development, and Director-General of the Enugu SME Center, Hon. Arinze Chilo-Offiah launched a wave of innovative programmes in the State that have been creating a conducive space where Small and Medium-sized Enterprises can assess resources to thrive in the state.

The vision of Hon. Chilo-Offiah and the Enugu State Government under the governor, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has always been to create a network of organisations that will operate effectively in a structured way, amongst other things. Having garnered experience as an investment banker before assuming the public office, Hon. Chilo-Offiah understands the conditions involved in creating an efficient business ecosystem. The knowledge that an economic community is supported by a foundation of interacting organisations and individuals who speak the language of the business world enabled Hon. Chilo-Offiah to host free skill-acquisition courses through the Enugu SME Center under the capacity-development-driven initiative, ENUGU LEARNING.

The initiative featured the Enugu Skills Acquisition Masterclass (ESAM), a monthly series focused on the empowerment of business owners, job seekers, entrepreneurs with the necessary skills needed to better control their business or empower themselves to seek other revenue-generating opportunities. The Masterclass which has both online and offline series aims to support unemployed and underemployed members of the society to participate in skill development programmes that will help them gain new skills for the workplace. Since its inception, the programme has been of benefit to over 25,000 participants. The masterclass had all-encompassing programs such as the Up-Skill Her Initiative, and the Facebook “Boost your Business” Digital Training.

The Up-Skill Her Initiative was designed as a digital training of women between the ages of 20-35 in Web Design, Digital Marketing, and Graphics Design. The program has equipped over 2000 women in Enugu State with digital skills with which they have been able to get new jobs and create wealth opportunities. Hon. Chilo-Offiah also led the Enugu SME Center in partnership with Facebook to educate individuals on how to utilise Facebook’s digital marketing tools to improve their brand profile and online presence. Through this programme, business owners were able to gain new skills and capacities to market their products and services on channels that will help them reach more customers.

Also, to ascertain that Ndi Enugu acquire the skills necessary to be employable in all circumstances, Hon. Chilo-Offiah established a partnership between the Enugu SME Center and Jobberman to launch the learning initiative, “Employability Skills: Being Adaptable and Flexible in the E-Workspace.” The Training was designed to help employees, entrepreneurs, and corporate workers to adjust to working from their homes due to the COVID 19 realities, and make the most of the lockdown. The Masterclass provided insights into corporate communication skills and time management, which are very important factors in the workspace.

In an expansion of the Enugu Skill Acquisition Masterclass (ESAM), the Center introduced an advanced training, Enugu Skill Acquisition Masterclass Plus (ESAM+). The advanced training expanded the scope of SME engagement, intersecting the creative industry, Agriculture, Community & Government, Business Development/Strategy, and Tech. This intersection was made to develop the ESME Community (both offline and online); increase the expertise of Ndi Enugu and equip them with appropriate skills, and place the business ecosystem on the global map. The tutors who trained the participants of the Masterclass engaged their diverse pool of expertise and influence in the labour market space, to create teachable and content-worthy course materials that would effectively equip the beneficiaries. The participants were trained in Arts and Entertainment, Business Development, Food, Music, Photography, Beauty, Tech and Fashion.

The Business Ecosystem for SMEs and Entrepreneurs in Enugu State is becoming swift and vigorous in operation, and the state is taking its place on the global map, all thanks to Hon. Chilo-Offiah and his innovative ideas and schemes through the Enugu SME Center, championed by the youth-friendly governor of the State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

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