ASSETS and Bellafricana SME Export Workshop

African Sustainable SME Export Trade Solutions (ASSETS) and Bellafricana present Repositioning Nigerian SMEs As A Catalyst To Achieve Rapid, Sustainable Growth In The Non-Oil Export Sector.

Have you ever asked yourself any of these questions?

• Can SMEs become major players in the non-oil export value chain?
• Should my company get involved in export?
• How do I know if my product is export ready?
• If I don’t have a product yet what can I do?
• If I am a marketer can I get involved in export?
• Should I switch from import to export?

If you want answers to any of these questions, then you don’t want to miss a golden opportunity at the SME Export Workshop to get practical, down to earth answers to these and many other questions. You will also get the latest information about new incentives and critical issues affecting the non-oil export sector in Nigeria.


ASSETS and Bellafricana SME Export Workshop

WHERE?

At a special workshop to prepare SMEs for opportunities and challenges in the non-oil export sector at Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

WHEN?

Wednesday 29th June 2016 from 9am – 5pm (Registration commences at 8.30am)

WHAT DOES IT COST?

Early bird fee: ₦12,000 (If payment is made on or before 17th of June)
Fee: ₦15,000 (After 17th of June till 27th of June, subject to availability of space)

HOW TO PAY:

Make payment to Bellafricana, Zenith Bank, Account Number 1013734944

Use your company name as reference. Once payment is made kindly scan deposit slip or proof of transfer to info@bellafricana.com, cc: smeexportsolutions@gmail.com with name and phone number.

TO REGISTER: Go to export.bellafricana.com

CONTACT NUMBER:

For sponsorship and more information, call Bukky on 08086363970

Participants will also benefit from the following:

Presentation on the NEXIM Non-oil export Stimulation Facility and other Export financing packages

Information about market access programmes including:

• ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and ECOBIZ
• USA – African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)
• European Union – EU Export Helpdesk and EPA

Assessment of Samples:

(One product per participant) and contact with officials from Government and International development agencies who will highlight the special facilities assistance and training available for Nigerian export-oriented SME producers and marketers.

Presentations that will cover:

1. The importance of market entry requirements and specifications
2. Quality Assurance/Control,
3. Certification,
4. Packaging and Labelling,
5. Costing and Pricing,
6. Non-tariff Barriers,
7. Phytosanitary Issues,
8. Use of social media and ICT as platforms to promote and export products made by Nigerian SMEs.

WORKSHOP COORDINATOR: Ms Shade Bembatoum-Young, CEO African Sustainable SME Export Trade Solutions (ASSETS)

Unreasonable Lab launches in Nigeria, To Prepare Startups For Investment

Unreasonable Ambition: How a movement of entrepreneurship training programs seeks to put a dent on poverty

Boulder, CO –On 6th of June to 10th of June 2016, 25 startups from across Nigeria will gather in Lagos for 5 days, alongside top investors and business mentors for Unreasonable Lab Nigeria, a five-day intensive training program preparing them to raise capital, replete with seasoned entrepreneurs and investors from across Nigeria serving as mentors.

Asked why they wanted to bring Unreasonable Labs to their country, Unreasonable Labs Nigeria’s founding team Olufemi Omotayo, Tito Philips, Jnr. and Michael Olorunninwo said: 

“For the first time in history, we have adopted a market economy. Our ongoing development cannot continue through aid and donation. There’s no other way to address our challenges but through entrepreneurship, innovation, and private sector. And Unreasonable Labs might be the best avenue to addressing these needs.”

“It’s amazing to see entrepreneurs creating companies that can really help a lot of people,” explains Teju Ravilochan, co-founder and CEO of Unreasonable Institute. Unreasonable Institute boasts successful alumni, including:

• Mosaic, the “solar bank” that started as an idea at Unreasonable Institute and now is the largest lender for home solar projects in the United States.
• Eneza, the fastest growing mobile education app in Africa, equipping 650,000 students in Kenya to gain access to tutoring and test prep on $10 phones.
• MANA Nutrition, which has cured over one million kids of severe acute malnutrition through a nutrient-enriched peanut butter.

The results are striking. 93% of the 150 startups in Unreasonable Institute’s portfolio have raised funding totaling over $100 million. And all together, those companies are benefitting 8 million lives.

But to Ravilochan and his team, it wasn’t enough. “We started Unreasonable Institute because we thought the best way to address billion-person problems was by helping entrepreneurs find solutions,” he explains. “But to have any chance of doing that, we need to find thousands of entrepreneurs and get them the people and resources they need to grow.”

Ravilochan noted Unreasonable Institute had one key barrier to scale. “Our model is high touch,” he explains. “Mentors spend a lot of time with our entrepreneurs.” Mentors (experienced business and social/environmental change leaders) each pick one company to work with for 6-12 months. “And we carefully match them based on diagnosing our entrepreneur’s needs and understanding the mentor’s skills.”

“Entrepreneurs get a lot of attention from mentors who come through the program. That’s what makes Unreasonable Institute so valuable for them.” says Ravilochan. “So we weren’t going to be able to maintain the quality of our support and work with a whole lot more entrepreneurs. So we figured, hey, what if we could just teach other people to do what we do?”

Enter Unreasonable Labs. “We packaged up our curriculum and built a way to train teams we think could do what we do,” says Banks Benitez, Vice President of Global Expansion at Unreasonable Institute. “The local teams that we find in new countries to run Labs can then recruit locally-based mentors and funders to support the startups they find.”

In 2015-2016, Unreasonable Institute has equipped 25 Labs in the locations below:






For more information about the #UnreasonableNaija event, kindly visit: www.unreasonableinstitute.org/accelerator/nigeria-2016/

Nigeria Contact:
Email: UnreasonableNG@gmail.com
Phone +234 817 672 8769
Twitter: @UnreasonableNG
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnreasonableNG/

ITS TYME Application - Junior achievement and Southern Business Academy

The Junior Achievement (JA) in conjunction with the southern business Academy in Nigeria is currently recruiting interested candidates to register for the following courses;

• Electrical Wiring & Technology (with Solar Panel/Inverter Installation)
•  Catering & Hotel management
• Photography & Video Coverage
• Painting & Paint making
• Building Technology
• Make-up, Gele tying, Beautifying
• Hairstyling
• Barbing
• Bead-making

DEADLINE

April 25th, 2016

This opportunity will train you to understand the core concepts in theory and demonstrated practices to make fantastic use of lessons learned and hence, build the confidence to transform this vocation into a meaningful and potentially rewarding career.

The program comes with essential resource materials that will inspire you to keep going.

You will also get opportunities to interact with notable professionals and participate in live projects, exhibitions and excursions.

ELIGIBILITY

Interested candidates must be willing to take trainings and demonstrate basic integrity and discipline. We require Nigerians who are willing to become agents of driving social development to the society.

Finally, candidates must be at least 18 years and not more than 25 years old by the time of application, and should demonstrate the ability to listen and understand Basic English.

Interviews begin on 20th of April, 2016

COST

Cost of training is FREE

To register, please download form at http://www.sbang.org/website-admissions/

Completed forms must be returned on or before 25th April, 2016

For more information, please call +234 803 480 1307, +234 806 139 7828, or visit www.sbang.org



You may also mail us at info@sbang.org

FIIRO, TRAINING WORKSHOP SCHEDULE 2016

Last year, I published the training workshop schedule for FIIRO because I realized a lot of people were unaware of these trainings. Subsequently I have received emails and requests for an update for 2016. So by popular demand guys, here's the F.I.I.R.O training calendar for 2016.

In case you don't know who F.I.I.R.O is and what they are about, please refer to my last post on my experience in their techno-entrepreneurship training program here.

TRAINING WORKSHOP SCHEDULE 2016 

1. Cassava Flour Production     Mar 16-18,  Apr 13-15,  June 8-10  N50,000.00

2. Instant Pounded Yam Flour Production Mar 14-18, Apr 11-15, May 16-20, June 13-17 N50,000.00

3.  Bread and Confectionary Baking(including Soy Snacks) Mar 7-11, Apr 11-15, May 2-6, June 13-17 N50,000.00

4.  Fufu Flour Production from Cassava Mar 3-8, Apr 21-26, June 9-14 N40,000.00

5.  Edible Mushroom Production Mar 14-18, May2-6, June 13-17 N35,000.00

6. Fruit Juice Production from Nigeria Fruits Mar 7-11, Apr 25-29, June 20-24 N40,000.00

7. Zobo Drink Production and Preservation Mar 30-1st April, May 25-27, Jun 29-July1 N25,000.00

8. Palm Wine Bottling and Preservation Mar 21-23, May 11-13, June 8-10. N40,000.00

9. Smoked Fish Production Mar 16-18, Apr 27-29, May 11-13, June 22-24. N50,000.00

10. Cassava Starch Production Mar 14-18, Apr 18-22 N35,000.00

11. Kunu Drink Production and Preservation Apr 18-22, June 6-10 N40,000.00

12. Plantain Flour Production Apr 4 – 8, May 2-6, June 13-17 N40,000.00

13. Electroplating and Plug Refurbishing Mar 14-18, Apr 11-15 N20,000.0

14 Cassava Chips Production Mar 9-11, Apr 13-15. N35,000.00

15. Laundry Soap Production Apr 4 – 8, May 2-6, June 20-24. N40,000.00

16 Toilet Cleanser Production Mar 14-18, June 20-24 N15,000.00

17 Computer Appreciation Training Apr 18-29, June 6-10. N30,000.00

18 Black Soap April 18-22, May 16-20 N50,000.00

19 Garri Production Mar 3-8, Apr 21-26, June 9-14 N50,000.00


FOR WHOM

• All those contemplating the establishment of cottage, small and medium scale Industries.
• Agro-Industrial/Business Consultants.
• Designers and Fabricators of Processing Equipment and Machinery.
• Those in Baking, Hotels and Catering Businesses.
• Operators of Cottage and Medium scale Agricultural Farms.
• Those already in production with quality control problems.

METHOD OF APPLICATION

Applications are to be forwarded in person with cash or mail (courier) accompanied with bank draft addressed to:-

The Director-General
Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Off Agege Motor road, Via Cappa Bus Stop,
P.M.B 21023, Ikeja-Lagos State
Tel: 01-4531364, 08023414996, 08023164201, 08033863474
E-mail: info@fiiro.gov.ng
www.fiiro.gov.ng

For Enquiry on FIIRO Technology contact: enquiry@fiiro.gov.ng
Enquiry Time: Monday to Friday between 9:00am to 4:00pm daily.


PLEASE NOTE:

• Participants will be responsible for lodging while course fee covers tea breaks/snacks and workshop materials.
• Participants are expected to make full payment preferably a week before the commencement of each workshop.
• FIIRO may cancel any of the above workshops in the event of poor response from participants.

Click to fill "Online Registration Form"

SMIDS 3D ANIMATION TRAINING PROGRAM

Remember Damilola? I featured her on here in 2013, (click here, if you missed it or don't remember). Well she's stuck with her dream and is still in the game.

A lot has happened since then, besides becoming Mrs Solesi :-), she is now a Yali fellow (young african leaders initiative of the US government) and is paying it forward by training people who want to build a career in animation.

Details of the training are below, after the video;

We're almost ready for the class.

The 3D animation training is an 8-week animation training by Smids animation studios in partnership with the United States Africa Development Fund and Microsoft. if you or someone you know is interested in enhancing their animation skills then you've got to know you have just a few days to get started. Classes start on Monday February 1st and it promises to be a life changing experience.

For just N150,000 you could literally upgrade yourself or someone you know(or someone in your team) to the top 20% of proficiency in 3D animation.

The advert above on youtube was done by an ex student of our animation training.

For more details, call 08170997431 0r email smidsanimation@gmail.com

Learning a practical hands on skill is the way to go! Thank me later. 

2016 GDVT (GERMAN DUAL VOCATIONAL TRAINING) PROGRAMME (Closes today!)

We are pleased to inform you that Registration for the 2016 phase of the GDVT (German Dual Vocational Training) Programme has commenced. Kindly  be part of the FREE training exercise.

The GDVT Programme is a training programme championed by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry in conjunction with her German partners to upscale skills in selected vocational professions. These professions include.

Mechanical Construction and Electronics/Electrics
Mechatronics (Industrial/Automobile)
Masonry/Bricklaying
Business Studies/Project Management
Metal Fabrication and Welding
Carpentry and Joinery
Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Works
Plumbing and Pipe Fitting

Phase one ended 2015  - Source

To show interest kindly send ur name, phone number, email n area of interest  to:
08078004967/omolabake@lagoschamber.com.                                     07085513037/ekundayo.adedoyin@lagoschamber.com

Please note that it closes by Friday, 22nd January, 2016 (TODAY).  We therefore implore you to forward your name, email and phone number on or before the close of business on the aforementioned date.

INITIAL BRIEFING HOLDS ON FRIDAY, 12TH FEBRUARY, 2016 BY 9.00AM AT THE LCCI CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION CENTRE, 10, NURUDEEN OLOWOPOPO DRIVE, BEHIND MKO GARDENS, ALAUSA, IKEJA, LAGOS. 
                                                                                                                                                                          For Further enquiry call/whatzapp: MM on 08032946291‎

APPLY FOR THE ROAD TO WOMEN’S BUSINESS GROWTH PROJECT

The Road to Women’s Business Growth project is a unique initiative which will build the business skills of women entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

The project aims to increase women’s access to financial services and markets and empower them to grow profitable and sustanable business, ultimately promoting their long-term economic independence.

There is no registration fee. However, please note that participants are requested to cover travel/transportation costs to the project’s training centres located in three cities: Lagos, Abuja or Uyo.

Project Structure

The project will focus on providing support to women entrepreneurs through its two phased approach:
Phase I

500 small business owners will be trained in financial literacy and investment readiness over six (6) weeks, including two classroom workshops and four weeks of e-learning (January – March 2016).
Phase II

100 top performing women entrepreneurs (out of the 500) will receive intensive business support in the form of tailored business training and services and ongoing mentoring over six months (from May 2016).

To be eligible for this program you need to:

1. Own a business in Nigeria.

2. Operate a business in a high-growth sector.

3. Have 3 – 49 staff.

4. Have an annual turnover of N3-20 million.

5. Have English language fluency

6. Have a business which has generated profit for at least 2 years.

7. Have a strong desire and commitment to grow your business.

8. Have basic computer literacy

9. Have a need for additional investment and have had no previous access to formal financial services

Application Process

The deadline for application is 5pm on 10 December 2015. Applications will be evaluated as they arrive, and selections will be made on a rolling basis. Places will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Selection results will be announced in January 2016

APPLY NOW

For questions please contact Lola at Lfalokun@pau.edu.ng or call 08174583173.

FIIRO, TRAINING WORKSHOP SCHEDULE 2015

Last year, I took a techno entrepreneurship course at the Federal Institute of Industrial Research and it opened my eyes to a lot of things.

You would be surprised how many raw materials have been researched and are waiting to be commercialized.

My mushroom practical

The Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) is a parastatal under the agency of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology. FIIRO was the idea of an economic mission sent to Nigeria in 1953 by the World Bank. The mission's observation was that industrial research activities in Nigeria were diffused and uncoordinated with no definite direction. Consequently, a decision was reached to set the Institute in 1956.

Their mission is to conduct and promote market-driven research and development (R&D) for the industrialization and socio-economic development of the country.

The areas they focus on are;

• Research and Development of Food and Agro – Allied Processing Technologies.
• Research and Development into Pulp and Paper Processing.
• Research and Development into Packaging and Product Design
• Design and Fabrication of Equipment Prototype

My mushroom project

Ondo girls too like book, lol

Did you know that Ola Ola and Ayoola are products of FIIRO research? I was exposed to officials from NAFDAC, BOI, NASME, NEPC, TIC, SMEDAN amongst others. For a long time I had wondered about bottling palm wine for african themed hampers, alas they already researched this in FIIRO and some entrepreneurs through FIIRO are already exporting bottled palm wine.

Plus, did you know we have technology incubation centers at different locations across the federation?

There's really a lot of information out there that would save you a lot of trouble in starting a business. One thing I have learnt over the years is that information is power!

Actually FIIRO could use a lot of publicity, they've got a lot of good stuff. It was after my course there that I realized the disconnect between many of our formal institutions and these research institutions. They all need to work side by side. Don't you think?

So I saw their training schedule for this last quarter of 2015 and I thought to share. Someone might need this. Please share!

Cheers.

TRAINING WORKSHOP SCHEDULE 2015

1. Cassava Flour Production  - Sept 02-04, Oct 07-09, Nov 25-27, Dec 09-11 N30,000.00

2. Instant Pounded Yam Flour Production - Sept 14-18, Oct 05-09, Nov 16-20, Dec 14-18 N20,000.00

3. Bread and Confectionary Baking(including Soy Snacks) -  Sept 07-11, Oct 19-23, Nov 16-20, Dec 14-18 N20,000.00

4. Fufu Flour Production from Cassava - Sept 17-22, Oct 08-12, Nov 26- Dec 02 N20,000.00

5. Edible Mushroom Production - Sept 14-18, Oct 05-09, Nov 16-20 N20,000.00

6. Fruit Juice Production from Nigeria Fruits - Sept 07-11, Oct 05-09, Dec 14-18 N20,000.00

7. Zobo Drink Production and Preservation - Sept 19-22, Oct 14-16, Dec 09-11 N15,000.00

8. Palm Wine Bottling and Preservation - Oct 21-23, Nov 25-27 N15,000.00

9. Smoked Fish Production - Sept 09-11, Oct 21-23, Nov 25-27, Dec 16-18 N20,000.00

10. Cassava Starch Production - Sept 14-18, Oct 19-23, Dec 14-18 N15,000.00

11. Kunu Drink Production and Preservation - Sept 21-25, Nov 16-24 N20,000.00

12. Plantain Flour Production - Sept 28- Oct 02, Oct 12-16, Nov 16-20 N20,000.00

13. Electroplating and Plug Refurbishing - Oct 12-16, Nov 16-20 N20,000.00

14. Cassava Chips Production - Oct 28-30, Dec 16-18 N15,000.00

15. Laundry Soap Production - Sept 21-25, Oct 19-23, Nov 23-27, Dec 14-18 N15,000.00

16. Toilet Cleanser Production - Oct 19-23, Nov 23-27, Dec 14-18 N15,000.00

17. Computer Appreciation Training - Oct 12-24, Nov 16-30 N15,000.00


FOR WHOM

All those contemplating the establishment of cottage, small and medium scale Industries.

Agro-Industrial/Business Consultants.

Designers and Fabricators of Processing Equipment and Machinery.

Those in Baking, Hotels and Catering Businesses.

Operators of Cottage and Medium scale Agricultural Farms.

Those already in production with quality control problems.


METHOD OF APPLICATION

Applications are to be forwarded in person with cash or mail (courier) accompanied with bank draft addressed to:-

The Director-General
Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Off Agege Motor road, Via Cappa Bus Stop,
P.M.B 21023, Ikeja-Lagos State
Tel: 01-4531364, 08023414996, 08023164201
E-mail: info@fiiro.gov.ng
www.fiiro.gov.ng

For Enquiry on FIIRO Technology contact: enquiry@fiiro.gov.ng
Enquiry Time: Monday to Friday between 9:00am to 4:00pm daily.

LCCI: INTRODUCTORY WORKSHOP ON NON-OIL EXPORT

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry invites you to a National Workshop on Non-Oil Export. The program is scheduled as follows:

DATE: THURSDAY 30TH JULY, 2015
VENUE: COMMERCE HOUSE, 1, IDOWU TAYLOR STREET, VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS
TIME: 9.00AM to 3.00PM
PARTICIPATION FEE: N10, 000

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION FEE (Closes Friday 24th July, 2015): LCCI Members N5,000, Non-Members N7,500

Workshop Objectives

• To ensure that participants from the Private and Public sectors are aware of the strategic importance of developing Nigeria's Non-oil Export Sector at this critical point in our Nation's socio-economic history.
• To underscore the crucial role to be played by SMEs in accelerating the sustainable development of the Non-oil Export Sector in Nigeria.
• To inform participants about pitfalls, challenges, strategies and creative solutions.
• To give information to SMEs on business opportunities in the Non-oil Export Sector.
• To provide information about NEXIM Export Financing Facilities.
• To provide information about the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme and ECOBIZ.
• To promote Advocacy in support of SME Export Development.

Topics highlighted will include:

a) Product Development and Adaptation for Export
b) Competitive Advantage and Identification of possible Export Markets
c) Strategic Export Marketing Arrangements
d) Effective Trade Fair Participation

For further information, kindly contact Doyin on 07085513037, Ayo on 08032206527 or Kingsley on 08131048999.You may wish to send mail to ekundayo.adedoyin@lagoschamber.com, ayodele@lagoschamber.com or eze@lagoschamber.com

Kindly pay into the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s First Bank Account number 2007 7602 02.

WomenX : Unleashing the Exponential Power of Women Entrepreneurs #2015

All the business women in the house please stand up!

This should interest you.

Are you a woman entrepreneur looking for these opportunities?

1. Growth potential
2. Business Expansion
3. Job creation
3. Sustainability
2. Adding value to your business.

Then APPLY for WomenX Scholarship today!

The Global Women Entrepreneurs Program, Womenx, is an innovative and global program developed to support Women Entrepreneurs.

The Enterprise Development Center, Pan-Atlantic University in collaboration with The World Bank will:

• Provide practical Business Education through a blended learning approach (online and in-class training)
• Help strengthen Women Entrepreneurs network
• Offer mentoring
• Create linkages between financial institutions and Women Entrepreneurs.

Selection criteria will be as follows:

• Company must be owned / managed by a woman
• Should be a functional business (at least 6 months in operation)
• Business must have at least 5 Employees
• The Enterprise must have high growth potential
• High local content will be an advantage 

Application is hereby requested from qualified female business owners for the first round of WomenX Scholarship. Download Application form!

Completed forms should be sent by email to: aosinaike@pau.edu.ng and copy edc@pau.edu.ng

Short-listed applicants will receive an invitation for an interview.

Selected Scholars will be required to pay N75,000 as their counterparts fee for the 12 months scholarship Program. Class training will be in Lagos and Abuja.

See flyer or visit: www.edc.edu.ng for more information

or Call Adeola on 08174583169 for general enquiries