By Mustapha Salisu
Inspire Arewa Youths Initiative (IAYI), a non-governmental organization focused on promoting youth education, empowerment, and entrepreneurship in Northern Nigeria, successfully held the third edition of its Small and Medium Enterprise Exhibition (SME Expo 3.0) in collaboration with key stakeholders.
PRIME TIME NEWS reports that the event took place on Sunday at the Afficent Grand Marque in Kano State, centering on advancing sustainable development goals (SDGs) and reducing youth unemployment by creating growth platforms for young entrepreneurs.
Addressing the press, Muhammad Sani Ibrahim, Chairman of IAYI Kano, highlighted the event’s mission to bring together artisans, market traders, and entrepreneurs across the region to promote collaboration and celebrate their contributions to the local economy.
He highlighted that the event aimed to spotlight the creativity and skills within Kano’s business community, featuring competitions, exhibitions, and activities designed to inspire innovation among attendees.
“There will be artisans, entrepreneurs, buyers, and sellers here, all showcasing their unique products. It’s an opportunity for everyone to display their talents and connect with one another,” Ibrahim stated.
Also addressing newsmen, Amina Jamil Saleh, Cluster Supervisor at IAYI, added that the event also aimed to expose youths to the realities of entrepreneurship, particularly in the current economic climate.
She emphasized IAYI’s mission to encourage young people to explore overlooked business areas for self-reliance, noting the organization’s five active clusters: catering, fashion, beauty, photography, and an upcoming focus on agricultural digital entrepreneurship and artificial intelligence.
PRIME TIME NEWS reports that the expo’s highlights included competitions for artisans across three categories, a fashion show featuring local designers, and live painting sessions by artists, all of which aimed to inspire the community and create an environment where local talents could thrive and gain recognition.