By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki.
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has assured of a robust partnership with the Ebonyi Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEDAN for business development in the state.
The SMEDAN State Coordinator, Mr Chigozie Asochukwu gave the assurance during an interactive visit to his office at Abakaliki town by the EBASME members.
Asochukwu promised to assist the EBASME members in assessing all available funds and SME facilities within his jurisdiction and accommodate them in every sponsored trade mission by the Federal government and other business programs by the SMEDAN.
He encouraged the members of the EBASME to carry themselves along and try to employ innovations for advancement in their enterprises.
"There is a stage where we discovered that 90 per cent of the people who are into businesses are small and medium business owners. If we pick them and train them, you see they will improve their businesses.
"After training you, we give you access to finance. From the first quarter of the next year, you will begin to have access to soft loans and grants. I advise you to build your capacity so that if you have access to that fund you will utilize it to improve your businesses. Money will come. We have many programs but our targets are not just to give out money but to engage you in capacity drill.
"Anything you do try to become the best of it. It's left for you to advise the government to make policies that can work in your favour. The economy is in the hands of the entrepreneurs but in Nigeria, the government decides what happens. Please, try to employ innovation," the Coordinator hinted.
Earlier, the EBASME Chairman, Mr Joseph Erishi congratulated the SMEDAN on the appointment of the new DG of the agency, Sir Charles Odii, whom he described as the key promoter of SME100Africa and a renowned entrepreneur.
Erishi also commended the management staff of the SMEDAN for having continued to work tirelessly since 2003 to promote, coordinate and facilitate the development of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs in Ebonyi State.
He noted that the effort of SMEDAN has become the surest way of tackling the twin problems of unemployment and poverty on one hand and the achievement of economic diversification and industrialisation on the other hand.
He described EBASME as a home of vibrant entrepreneurs whom God has blessed with entrepreneurship wisdom and already contributing their quotas for the economic development of the state and Nigeria at large.
He added: "We are scouting for empowerment opportunities through single-digit interest funds to enable us to explore our God-given potentials, for the betterment of humanity, both in Ebonyi State and the nation in general."
The Chairman disclosed that Ebonyi State has no independent organized business organisation that can contribute objectively in championing the course of SMEs in the state, considering the signing into law by Governor Francis Nwifuru on 27th June 2023, the bill that established Ebonyi State Small and Medium Enterprises Agency, EBSMEDA.
He therefore confirmed that EBSMEDA was a motivating factor in the formation of EBASME and asked for a partnership with SMEDAN to enable his members to contribute their quotas towards the development of SMEs especially in a diversifying economy, ensuring robust MSME growth and a more resilient environment in the state and beyond.
