SMEDAN TO PARTNER WITH IMO GOVT ON INDUSTRIALIZATION AND JOB CREATION.
Officials of General of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) led by the Director, Alhaji Bature Umar Masari were in Imo State recently to explore possible ways of assisting the Government of Imo State achieve its agenda of Industrialization of the State.
Speaking during the visit, Alhaji Umar Masari said that since 2003 when the agency was established, it has been doing a lot in the area of enterprise creation and development and identifying Nigerians who are interested in entrepreneurship creation and development; and providing training in entrepreneurship and vocational skills so that Nigerians can be equipped to go into entrepreneurship creation and development.
He informed that there are a lot of activities going on in the agency nationwide, adding that the agency has been able to ensure decentralization of its activities in all the states of the federation with offices in the six geo-political zones in the country. This arrangement according to him is to ensure that their personnel can operate closely with their people in the rural areas.
The DG maintained that there is need for Nigerians to get involved in entrepreneurship because this will reduce the country’s level of dependence on foreign products and provide a dependable alternative to the National Economy. He identified the dependence on crude oil by the Federal Government to fund projects as responsible for the economic downturn.
He concluded by requesting full corporation from the State Government in other to achieve the aim of empowering the economy of the State.
Responding, the Chief of Staff, Imo State Government House, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu thanked the officials of the agency for finding it worthy to come to the assistance of the State in her bid to Industrialize.
He assured the team of government’s support, adding that the administration of Owelle Rochas Okorocha has already taken convincing steps towards delivering the government’s promise to provide employment to the people via industrialization programme.
The Eziama-Obaire born vibrant politician informed the DG and other members of the team that the state government has already recovered some state-owned industries back to the government fold. They are the Paint and Paper Industries respectively which were moribund as a result of bad management and neglect by past administrations who later sold them.
He also informed the team about the large fish farm located at Oguta where thousands of fish are being bred for consumption which also generates revenue and provides employment opportunities.
The Chief of Staff listed other establishments of the State Government which are in line with the mandate of the SMEDAN to include:
* Industrial Clusters at Naze * Shoe Industry * Avutu Poultry Farm * Fish Farm , Oguta * Imo College of Advance Professional Studies , (ICAPS), Owerri for Skill Acquisition * etc
He reassured them of providing every assistance they will need in other to succeed in the state while urging them to carry the state along especially in national programs.
Also present at the meeting were Barr. Rex Anunobi, Chief Simeon Iwunze and many others.
