By Correspondent in Lokoja.
The Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaha Bello, has promised to strengthen the activities of the Kogi State Enterprise Development Agency to enable it achieve the desired goal of improved enterprenuerial activities in the state.
Bello gave the promise while declaring open the maiden edition of Micro and Small Medium Enterprise (MSME) workshop at the Glass House, Governnent House, Lokoja on Wednesday.
Our Correspondent reports that the event was in commemoration of International MSME Day (Maiden Edition) with the theme:MSME Growth: A Strategic Tool for Economic Development.”
The governor noted that before his administration , the state had no dictated agency such as KEDA charged with the responsibility of managing enterprising activities in the state.
He said his administration established the agency to train youths on essence of enterprenuerial activities, to reduce unemployment and encourage self reliance among others advantages.
Bello expressed concern over a development where by many people depend on governnent as the sole employer of labour, adding that such attitude must change in preference for MSMEs which account for 90 per cent of economic activities and job creation.
According to him, the dictate of the economic reality in the country, now showed that governnent can no longer serve as the major employer of labour anymore, adding that people must be enterprenuerial incline to reduce unemployment in the society and go the way of self reliance.
He said the state government had adopted July 13 of every year to commemoration of MSME.
The governor commended the Managing Director/CEO of KEDA,Hajia Rekiya Onaivo Sanni,and her management for their dedication to actualising the aims and objectives of the organization.
He, however, stressed the need by KEDA, to ensure a huge leap in the execution of its duty through training and retraining of new enterprenuers and youths to build viable businesses with emerge technology.
In her address of welcome, Hajia Rekiya Onaivo Sanni, said KEDA was established in realisation of the existence of array of the evidence that highlights MSMEs’enormous contributions to job creation, income generation,trade and inclusive growth.
She noted that the despite the efforts of the agency to stimulate the business environment, a lot still needs to be done to make MSMEs reach their full potential.
The Managing Director/CEO expressed delight that some of the initiatives that Governor Bello-led administration put in place to stimulate and enhance business growth had started yielding great results.
“As an agency,we will continue to provide productive interfaces and technical support for enterprenuers in kogi state,to be fully equipped with necessary skills and expertise to complete in the business environment, even at global level,” she promised.
Our Correspondent reports that one of the highlights of the occasion was exibition tour by the governor.
Experts also delivered papers of various topics, such as “Emerging opportunities for sub-sector business model and “An entrepreneurship journey: Feedbacks and lessons learned,” among others.
The occasion was attended by members of the state executive council and a cross section of population in the state.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
