…as training of 2,500 entrepreneurs across 16 Local Government Areas of the State concludes, facilitators and participants applauds the Government
Governor Kayode Fayemi has appraised facilitators and stakeholders of the just concluded Agric/Small and Medium Entrepreneurs Investment Scheme Training organized by Ekiti State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (MEDA); and Bureau of Employment Labour and Productivity (BELP), in collaboration with Wema Bank.
The Governor, ably represented by the Hon. Commissioner for Investment, Trade & Industry, Hon. Olusoga, during a Press Conference organized to draw down the curtain on the weeklong training, said that the training is a turning point in the journey to build the capacity of Ekiti youths to generate business ideas and employment opportunities.
“I have been reliably informed that, about 2,500 people across the State have been trained on the rudiments of business development such as writing and understanding business plan for the ultimate purpose of accessing a number of single-digit interest loans under Central Bank.
“In realization of our commitment to engaging and collaborating with all available development partners to design programmes and activities, this scheme is being co-sponsored by Wema Bank Plc. I am glad to note the commitment of the Bank to supporting initiatives aimed at creating employment generation, poverty reduction, financial inclusion as well as crime reduction,” he said.
Governor Fayemi also appreciated the commitment of the MEDA and BELP on organizing a successful training for Ekiti entrepreneurs.
“I therefore thank the management and staff of the Bank for supporting the State efforts on job creation. I also recognize the commitment of the Bureau of Employment, Labour & Productivity and the Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency for collaborating with the organised private sector, for ultimate purpose of Entrepreneurship development and enterprise facilitation. I look forward to seeing more of such collaborations in other aspects of our activities, for the benefits and economic emancipation of our citizens,” he said.
Hon. Commissioner for Information, Tourism and Values Orientation, Aare Muyiwa Olumilua also acknowledged the positive impact of the AGSMEIS Training in the lives of Ekiti entrepreneurs, saying that it will further drive the economy of the State.
Also speaking, Director-General of MEDA, Otunba Kayode Fasae said that the collaborative effort of the government and stakeholders have ensured a successful outing of the training.
“The training has successfully built the capacity of our youths for empowerment and also to make them become job creators. We appreciate Governor Kayode Fayemi for creating the enabling environment for making this a dream come true. We will now proceed to the post-training exercise which will further equip the beneficiaries for business management,” he said.
Speaking on the Impact of AGSMEIS to Ekiti Economy, Dr. Fasae said that Agribusiness Small & Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme is an intervention funding scheme of Central Bank to support the small and medium enterprises that has for long been abandoned by the regular commercial banks.
“On the initiative of CBN, the Bankers Committee in 2016, unfortunately this scheme did not take off in Ekiti until this time. AGSMEIS is designed to provide capacity-building to enhance the capacity of the trainees and then backed them up with the needed finance at a concessionary single digit interest rate. Ekiti State Government is committed to exploring all possibilities of creating employment opportunities for its Ekiti indigenes especially the young unemployed youth,” he said.
The DG continued that the Scheme ensures access to finance for small and medium enterprise (MSEs) as these enterprises are engine of growth of the Ekiti economy as well as that of Nigeria; Generates much needed employment opportunities in the state; Developes agricultural value chain and ensure sustainable agricultural practices, and boosts the managerial capacity of agri-business/SMEs as pipelines of growing enterprises that can become large corporate organizations.
Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Grooming Institute Holdings, Prince Tajudeen Ajisefini also affirmed that th #AGSMEIS Training will provide a platform for the youths to access proper grooming for the purpose of proper business planning and implementation.
Collaborative partners include; Ekiti State Government, Wema bank Plc., Enterprise Grooming institute, and Africa Leadership Forum.
