87 entrepreneurs in catering & confectionery get starter packs in Delta
In Delta State, 87 entrepreneurs have collected starter packs as caterers.
Items given to each of the beneficiaries included one electric mixer (Master Chef), Chaffing Dish –Hoffner 9 litres, Deep Freezer – Thermocool 140 litres as non-refundable job creation grants.
Others included Gas Oven (fabricated oven with one cooker), one 12kg Gas Cylinder, one Double Burner (fabricated), one Iceman Cooler (big 60 litres), one potato cutter, one non-stick pan, one kitchen scale. Each got was also given N16,500 and N6,500 for purchase one Cast Pot (35 gallons) and one cast frying pan (70 litres) respectively, the amount which was included in the cash allowance of N123,000 given them as micro-credit. They would also be given three months stipend of N30,000 on confirmation of business start-up.
The entrepreneurs otherwise known as stepreneurs were given the starter packs for the establishment of Catering and Confectionery Business under the Skills Training Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) of the state government after a three months training.
The state government which is behind the scheme says it is hopeful of a harvest of entrepreneurial ambassadors following its delivery of starter packs to 87 entrepreneurs in catering and confectioneries.
Speaking while handing out the starter packs to the stepreneurs, the Chief Job Creation Officer of the state, Eric Eboh, a professor, said the beneficiaries were the last set of the three months category of the 2016 Cycle of Stepreneurs and that they had been confirmed for the starter packs.
He expressed the state government’s hope to have a harvest of entrepreneurial ambassadors. “We hope to succeed with you. What we expect from you is nothing but success”, he said.
Mary Iyasere, commissioner for Trade and Commerce, had in her speech told them to count themselves lucky, adding that they should be glad that they were trained and empowered free of charge.
She urged them to maintain cleanliness and good working relationship towards their clients. She told them to supervise their works themselves as well as deliver their products by themselves by good supervision.
Iyasere urged them to plough back profit to sustain and grow their businesses so that they would be good ambassadors of the state.
Mercy Enoch, Asaba