FG flags off entrepreneurship programme

The Federal Government, through the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), has launched the Implementation of the Federal Public Service Entrepreneurship Programme (FPSEP) for the benefit of interested serving and exiting Officers in the Public Service.

The Programme was launched by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, CFR, on Monday in Abuja.

Sbe explained the programme is a sub-initiative of one of the 6 pillars of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021-2025 (FCSSIP25), which was introduced as an avenue to cater for the welfare of Public Servants, across the country.

The HoCSF announced some aspects of the FPSEP would create opportunity for those in Service to earn extra income, which will automatically enhance their lifestyles and wellbeing, as well as enable those retiring to cope with life after Service, while contributing to the development of other sectors of the economy.

Dr Yemi-Esan stated further that this, by implication would increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.

The HoCSF, who was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office (SWO) – OHCSF, Dr. Ngozi Onwudiwe, stated the FPSEP is of two components namely: Agripreneurship Start-up Scheme, which allows Public Servants to engage in farming while still in Service, and the Pre-Retirement Training and Business Start-up Scheme, designed to prepare Public Servants for life, post-retirement, by providing opportunities for them to acquire new skills for new career choices.

The HoCSF expressed optimism that the knowledge the participants would acquire from the training would be applied into agriculture and other business ventures, adding that a comprehensive curriculum has been developed for the Agripreneurship Start-up Scheme with six (6) Farms participating in the first batch.

The Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office (SWO) in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Ngozi Onwudiwe, reiterated that the FPSEP is a programme initiated by the OHCSF to promote Service Welfare, stressing that it was introduced to promote and ensure that public servants’ have multiple streams of income.

An overview of the entire Programme was delivered by the Director, Employee and Industrial Relations, OHCSF, Mrs Omoebie Akpan, who affirmed that the Entrepreneurship Programme, is a life changing one, which is meant to rejuvenate the Service. She informed that the first part of the Programme would last for one (1) week at the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN), then the business training start-up for two weeks, totaling three weeks.