Simply Exponential, ILO Partner to Train 200 Master Trainers in Entrepreneur Development Programme

Simply Exponential Consult Limited has launched a rollout of the International Labour Organization’s Start and Improve Your Business (ILO SIYB) Train-Trainer (TOT) Programme across Lagos and Abuja, aiming to equip professionals with the skills needed to support entrepreneurs and small businesses across Nigeria.

The firm’s Founder and Managing Partner, Morounfayo Williams, who is an ILO-certified master trainer, disclosed this during a press conference in Lagos, adding that the initiative was designed to build the capacity of business development service providers, SME Desk Officers of financial institutions, managers of enterprise development organisations and microfinance institutions, as well as trainers passionate about entrepreneurship education. According to Williams, the programme is expected to train 200 participants, creating a pool of certified trainers who will, in turn, deliver standardised business support to entrepreneurs across the country.

"It is a two-week hybrid certification initiative," Williams said. The ILO SIYB programme, deployed in more than 90 countries, provides practical, standardised training packages that help aspiring entrepreneurs generate viable business ideas, start formal enterprises, and improve existing businesses. The TOT course will be delivered from 21 September to 5 October, followed by a 30-day implementation and mentoring phase during which trainees step down training to others and are observed and supported prior to certification.

Key features of the programme include three core training packages: Generate Your Business Idea (GYBI), Start Your Business (SYB), and Improve Your Business (IYB), as well as hands-on learning tools including a business simulation game, role plays, "life cards," record-keeping exercises, and 12 participant manuals covering business planning, marketing, adult learning, and trainer guides. The programme also features a two-week intensive classroom/hybrid phase plus a 30-day implementation and supervision period to ensure quality and a multiplier effect. Certification will be awarded only after successful step-down training and observation, ensuring trainers meet international standards.

Williams described the TOT as an opportunity to create a multiplier effect of certified trainers who will deliver standardised, practical business support across the country. "The programme equips trainers with methodologies to help entrepreneurs separate personal and business finances, prepare viable business plans, and build sustainable enterprises," she said.

The Director-General of the Nigeria Employers' Consultative Association (NECA), Mr Adewale-Smart Oyerinde, affirmed private-sector support for initiatives that strengthen small businesses, create jobs, and contribute to national prosperity. The Director-General, who was represented by Adenike Adebayo-Ajala, emphasised that structured business training, covering costing, record keeping, access to finance and market linkages, is essential for business survival and growth in Nigeria's challenging economy.

The rollout of the ILO SIYB Train-Trainer Programme comes at a critical time for Nigeria's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Small and medium-sized enterprises form the backbone of the Nigerian economy, accounting for a significant portion of employment and economic activity. However, many businesses struggle with basic financial management, business planning and market access, often leading to high failure rates within the first few years of operation.

By equipping trainers with internationally recognised methodologies, the programme aims to address these challenges at scale. The multiplier effect of 200 certified trainers, each capable of training dozens of entrepreneurs, has the potential to transform business support across the country. The emphasis on practical, hands-on learning tools ensures that entrepreneurs receive not just theoretical knowledge but actionable skills they can immediately apply to their businesses.

The involvement of NECA, the foremost private-sector employer organisation in Nigeria, underscores the importance of the initiative to the broader business community. As Nigeria continues to grapple with economic challenges, including high unemployment and inflation, the development of a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem has become increasingly urgent. Programmes like the ILO SIYB TOT offer a pathway to sustainable job creation and economic growth, equipping Nigerians with the skills to start and grow businesses that can compete in both domestic and international markets.

For professionals seeking to enhance their capacity to support entrepreneurs, the programme represents a significant opportunity to gain internationally recognised certification and become part of a network of trainers committed to strengthening Nigeria's small business sector. With the first cohort set to begin later this month, the initiative marks an important step towards building a more resilient and prosperous Nigerian economy, one entrepreneur at a time.