Armed with certification and training modules from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), International Labor Organization (ILO) and Junior Chamber International (JCI), arguably three of the world’s leading capacity building organizations, TABAC has carried out training programs for small scale business operators in Lagos, Ogun and Ekiti States. Training topics include Entrepreneurship, marketing, product packaging, management of sales force, basic bookkeeping etc. Trainings were carried out under the auspices of local business organizations like the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industries (NASSI) and the Nigeria Junior Chamber (JCIN), in partnership with the relevant State agencies.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES DEVELOPMENT (ESMED)
Projects
US Entrepreneurship Resources
We participated in a United States Information Agency (USIA) project held in the United States, with select Young African Leaders from 25 African countries. The project emphasized entrepreneurship development and promotion of intra-Africa trade relations. The project provided us with a rare insight and access to vast resources in SME and entrepreneurship development. This included a study engagement with the Small Business Administration (SBA, Wash. DC) and many Small businesses and institutions in various States in the US.(1989).
Training of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) operators in Lagos State
We carried out series of trainings for small scale business operators in the Lagos area. Training topics include Entrepreneurship, marketing, product packaging, management of sales force etc. Trainings were carried out under the auspices of local business organizations like Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industries (NASSI) and Nigeria Junior Chamber. (1997-1999).
Training of members of Cooperative Societies in Ekiti State
For this project, we established a broad stakeholders platform that included the Ekiti State Government, Cooperative Federation of Nigeria, the ILO, World Bank and some local Banks. Using an ILO training module (“Improve Your Business”) that was specially developed for emerging countries, we carried out training of members of the Federation of Ekiti State Cooperatives (FESCOOP), mostly proprietors of small local businesses, scattered throughout the rural areas of Ekiti State. We took the training to them. This project led to the resuscitation of a long abandoned World Bank assisted industrial estate for SMEs in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State (2000).
Advocacy Papers on SME Development
Various papers were presented on Entrepreneurship and MSME development (see RESTRUCTURING AND SOCIAL ENGINEERING PUBLICATIONS). See full list here
Vocational Skills Development
We developed proposals for the establishment of an Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Academy to facilitate youth acquisition of vocational skills. Such institutions are urgently needed to engage and empower Nigerian youth. (2008)
ILO/NECA Certificate
UNDP
USIA-IVP
Youth Perspective on Restructuring
