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The Ekiti State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment,
Otunba Kayode Fasae has said that traditional rulers in the State have
important roles to play in ensuring the success of the proposed agency
banking scheme which will soon become operational in the State.
Otunba Fasae made the assertion during an advocacy visit to the State
Council of the Traditional Rulers in Ado Ekiti.
This is coming on the heels of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s approval
of a sum of N250 million as a start up loan to support Micro, Small
and Medium Enterprises ( MSMEs) in the State under the Ekiti State
Employment Trust Fund ( ETF).
Otunba Fasae who said that the present administration was passionate
about the wellbeing and the growth of the people in terms of job
creation ,said when the Employment Trust Fund becomes operational ,
it would provide funding support to Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises ( MSMEs) for Ekiti people at a low interest repayment
rate.
He noted that the proposed Agency Banking scheme would greatly solve
the problem of limited access to financial services in the rural areas
and create over 1000 direct and indirect jobs ,provide
entrepreneurial opportunities for the people at the grassroots as well
as engender the growth of small and medium enterprises ( SMEs) in the
rural areas of the State.
He said his Ministry would commence
Data collation of intended beneficiaries next week adding that the
scheme would be funded by the partnering banks, while the Government
will provide a conducive environment for its safe and smooth
operations.
The Commissioner revealed that the government is collaborating with
Wema Bank Plc in training about 20,000 participants between the ages
of 18 and 50 years old in different skills and vocations like
agribusiness, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) among
others .
He affirmed that the programme would cover all the Local Government
Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of the three
senatorial districts, and that successful participants would be
empowered with equipment to work, stressing that the beneficiaries
would be guided for eighteen months
Otunba Fasae urged royal fathers not only to support the scheme but
also mobilize their subjects to come out en-masse and register on-
line for the scheme.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Ekiti State Council of
Traditional Rulers, the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, HRM, Oba Ayorinde Ilori
Faboro said that the initiative is a welcome development adding that
the programme would create employment opportunities for Ekiti youths
and effectively solve the problem of lack of effective access to
financial services faced by many rural communities in the state which
is forcing residents to undertake risky and preventable long journeys
to carry out basic banking transactions such as cash withdrawals or
deposits.