Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie lkpeazu has expressed his administration’s readiness to partner organisations that compliments government’s efforts at advancing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the State.
Dr lkpeazu who stated this when he received in audience, a delegation of Nextier Capital Limited in Government House Umuahia, pointed out that the state government having recognised the fact that Abia has comparative advantage over other states in areas of SMEs gave much impetus to the development of SMEs as it has great potential to create jobs as well as boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
The Governor represented by his Deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu stated that apart from bringing young artisans into clusters by registering and incorporating them to be more proactive and contribute to the development of the State, government is also turning the infrastructural structure of Aba around, thus; creating an enabling environment for SMEs/businesses to thrive.
He lauded the management of Nextier Capital Limited for their initiatives of introducing modern technology in the market sector and stressed the need to incorporate and protect the common man from E-Commerce, while assuring them of government’s preparedness to partner them proactively to reposition Abia traders.
Abia State, Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED), Mr Nkwachukwu Agomoh pointed out that the creation of the Ministry has given SMEs development a direction and vision through friendly policy that has stimulated the increase in the State’s IGR and stated that the organisation having recognised the Governor as the champion of SMES in Nigeria deemed it fit to support government in areas of finding solutions to open Air market in the State.
Abia Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu (5th Right), with others during a courtesy call recently in Umuahia, Abia State.
Also speaking, the Director of Nextier Capital Limited, Mr Patrick Okigbo III, said they are in the State to partner government and present a workshop on its findings on fixing the enterprise engine of sustainable solutions to open market challenges.
He unveiled the challenges to include: fire outbreaks, multiple taxation, government undue interference in the management of the market among other challenges in the South East as part of their corporate social responsibility of giving back to the Society.
