Small-scale Entrepreneurs Get Boost

Laleye Dipo

The Niger State Government has signed an agreement with the Bank of Industry (BoI) for the release of N2billion to be granted to small scale entrepreneurs in the state as loans.

The Commissioner for Investment and Cooperative, Hajia Ramatu Yaardua who disclosed this at the opening of the 15th Niger state domestic trade fair in Minna said all the necessary arrangements for the release of the loan had been completed.

“The intention of government is to use this facility to boost small and medium enterprises thereby creating jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the state”.

Yaardua said the list of beneficiaries had been compiled while a consultant had been engaged to handle the disbursement of the loan.

She disclosed that the government has established a financing agency for cooperatives for easy access to loans and other facilities by the organisations.

“The state government has opened several other windows for small scale and big enterprises to explore for the growth of their businesses”.

In his opening speech, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello expressed appreciation to the state Chamber of Commerce for collaborating with his administration to improve the business climate in the state.

He said that his administration would continue to support the private sector, adding: “We will create the enabling environment for the private sector to thrive.”

The president of the state chamber of commerce Alhaji Umar Bakkai said the chamber has appointed the governor as its ‘life vice president’ because of what he described as the “satisfactory performance of the governor in the economic sector of the state”.