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From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The SHIFT Initiative has equipped artisans and entrepreneurs in Plateau State with practical financial and business-management skills through a one-day training and empowerment programme organised in collaboration with the Sustainable Development Goals Project Support Unit, Plateau State.
The programme was designed to address a critical gap facing many small-business owners. The training was led by the Executive Director, Ulan Jatau alongside the SHIFT team with sessions covering practical financial literacy, bookkeeping, budgeting, record-keeping, digital finance, modern business management and sustainable entrepreneurship.
According to the organisers, the sessions were designed to provide participants with knowledge they could immediately apply to their businesses. Beyond basic financial concepts, beneficiaries were guided on making informed decisions, separating personal and business finances, monitoring profitability, reinvesting earnings and planning for long-term growth.
Jatau noted that the intervention complemented the provision of equipment and financial support under the wider empowerment programme. Participants were selected from across the state’s 17 local government areas, reflecting what organisers described as a commitment to inclusive economic participation and support for micro-businesses facing prevailing economic challenges.
She noted that the initiative’s meaningful empowerment goes beyond tools, saying, “Entrepreneurs must also be equipped with the knowledge and discipline required to manage resources effectively, protect their investments and transform their skills into viable businesses.”
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She maintained that the training reflected her broader commitment to education, mentorship and community development through a practical approach. “The SHIFT team helped translate business principles into lessons relevant to the daily realities of artisans and informal-sector entrepreneurs,” she stated
The Plateau State Government, represented by the Deputy Governor, Ngo Josephine Piyo, reaffirmed its commitment to initiatives that provide citizens with the skills, resources and enabling environment necessary to thrive.
The programme also recognised the importance of expanding economic opportunities for women, young people and vulnerable groups across the state.
The Governor pointed out that through the partnership, SHIFT Initiative demonstrated the value of combining technical empowerment with financial and managerial capacity building.
“By strengthening the knowledge behind the businesses, the organisation is helping Plateau artisans improve profitability, expand their enterprises, create jobs and contribute more sustainably to their communities,” she stated.
