Udom Emmanuel, governor of Akwa Ibom, has been ploughing huge resources into the development of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), according to Ini Ememobong, commissioner for information and strategy.
The commissioner stated this in Uyo, the state capital, while addressing participants of the Strategic Management and Policy Studies Course 3/2020 of the Nigerian Army Resource Center, Abuja, who are on a study tour of the state.
He said the sector offers a large scale employment opportunities to the citizenry.
Ememobong said the governor has ensured that a workable database on SMEs is produced to guide the planning and development processes of viable and budding entrepreneurs doing business in Akwa Ibom.
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He emphasized that, in addition to placing SMEs on the top burner of his administration as one of the major pillars of his eight-point completion agenda, Emmanuel has mapped out programmes to grow the sector such as the Ibom 3,000 Project, My Entrepreneurial Goal Programme, MEGP and the 2Billion Naira interest free loan to traders and SMEs.
He listed others as the vocational training for youths in various sectors, including agriculture, power and ICT, training of youths in installation and repairs of renewable energy equipment, provision of fishing equipment to groups in coastal communities as well as expansion and operation of Ibom Tropicana mall to boost retail trade and enhance its value chain opportunities.
He expressed appreciation to the federal government for the bailout funds that extended to states to assuage the effect of the lockdown, emphasizing that, the funds were meant to re-energize the economy.
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In a vote of thanks, permanent secretary of the ministry, Inyang Jameson, expressed thanks to the visiting team for the encomium poured on Emmanuel and the ministry of information and Strategy.
Highlights of the event were the presentation of a plaque and publications by the representative of the Commandant of the Nigerian Army Resource centre, Abuja to the commissioner as well as the presentation of publications of the ministry to the team led by Ememobong.
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