Kwara Injects N2.5bn in SMEs, Budgets Fresh N500m

• Kwara Injects N2.5bn in SMEs, Budgets Fresh N500m

The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, said his administration had invested N2.5bn in supporting business owners in the state through its Kwara Small and Medium Enterprises Intervention Scheme.

He added that the state government had budgeted additional N500m for the funding of the scheme in the 2017 budget.

Ahmed, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Sola Gold, spoke on Friday during the investiture of Alhaji Adeoye Raji as the new President of Kwara Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, in Ilorin, the capital.

According to the Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr. Ali Ahmad, private concern like the KWACCIMA adds more value to the economy of the state and nation at large.

He urged KWACCIMA to synergise with all the tiers of government for solution to resuscitate some of the moribund industries in the state through guaranteeing of loans from the Bank of Industry.

He commended the governor for providing 10 hectares of land at Lasoju-Ogbomosho Road as permanent Trade Fair Ground.

Raji said there was no better time than now for every Nigerian to think out of the box to redirect the country’s economy to prosperity.

He said, “Therefore, our new face is all about solution. We will work with speed and accuracy to restore confidence in the business community. We believe KWACCIMA is the vehicle to lead business revolution in Kwara. It is our hope that Kwara State will no longer be referred to as Civil Service State but a commercial centre.

“My council will strengthen the business development unit of the chamber to be equipped for research and development. On this premise, we shall ensure a functioning research group which will collaborate with relevant research institutions and business schools to come out with policies, models and innovations that can revolutionise the business community.

“We shall offer business development training to the public and private sector within Kwara State and beyond. We shall collaborate with the government to ensure that skill acquisition centres produce skilled personnel that have hands-on capacity to function effectively.

“This will help in reviving the dearth of skilled manpower in business industry which has been expressed as a challenge by the business community.”