Abia State Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with Grand Renaissance International Limited (GRIL) have trained over 1000 potential beneficiaries of Central Bank of Nigeria/Agric Business Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme (CBN/AGSMEIS) facility at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia.
In his opening address, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture, Sir Charles Chukwudi Agbara, said the ministry and the state was committed towards engaging in activities and policies that would attract the very best of opportunities to Abians, adding that the training was one of the activities.
Sir Agbara said the training was organised in keeping to one of the conditions to access the NIRSAL facility which includes undergoing a mandatory training by an accredited Enterprise Development Institution (EDI) and have a business plan to equip individuals with the best business practices for growth and profitability.
He restated that the ministry was working with OVAL Platinum Limited, a consultant towards the success of the applicants and to further explore various opportunities to attract highly needed and affordable financing for various Agric-business, Micro and Medium Enterprise ventures of Abians.
The Permanent Secretary, appreciated Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, for his support, encouragement and commitment in achieving the success of the programme.
He encouraged all participants to make good use of the opportunity.
Agbara allayed the fears that this Programme may go the way of other such programmes in the time past.
Also speaking the appointed consultant and director of OVAL Platinum Limited, Dr Darlington Anyanwu, said the training was a strategic and investment opportunity for the applicants as their job was to coordinate application processes and monitor the disbursement of the facility.
Anyanwu said that this was a golden opportunity for Abians as the firm has the support of the governor of Abia State Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, to make sure that Abia farmers access the fund to establish and consolidate on their businesses.
He said that over 9000 farmers from the Northern part of the Country have accessed the facility as against 900 from the Southeast, adding that they were working hard in making sure that Abia applicants met basic requirements that may attract them access to the facility.
He promised that there are other facilities on the way for Abians.
Some of the applicants of CBN/AGSMEIS, Onu Nwokedi, Abia North, Alozie Umesi,Abia Central and Azubuike Nwangburuka, Abia South thanked the Ministry of Agriculture and the governor for availing them the opportunity to participate in the training and prayed God to bless them.
