BEVERLY HILLS, May 20, (THEWILL) – The Akwa Ibom State Government has successfully moved the number of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the state to 11,990, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong, has disclosed.
The Commissioner made the disclosure in Uyo when he received the Team Leader, faculty members and participants of the Strategic Management and Policy Studies Course 3/2020 from the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja, who visited the state recently.
According to him, a breakdown of the number indicated that 40 percent of these were operated within the Uyo Senatorial District, 33 percent in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, while Eket Senatorial District has 28 percent.
He said to further boost the economy of the state, the administration of Udom Emmanuel had also embarked on the Ibom 3,000 Project, MEGP, N2 billion interest-free loans to traders and SMEs, training of youths in installation and repairs of renewable energy equipment among other programmes.
He listed the implementation of the Ibom Enterprises Development Schemes (IBEDS) for the empowerment of entrepreneurs in the state, amnesty to 400 militants in the state and passing them through rehabilitation, re-integration and skills acquisition processes and construction of the Eket International Market to enhance entrepreneurship, as some of the interventions in the economic sector.
Others include: Expansion and operation of the Ibom Tropicana Mall and Entertainment Centre, Construction of a Skills Development Centre at Ikot Akpamba, Nsit Ubium, to empower the rural dwellers with sustainable skills, construction of a model Skills Development Centre at Ikot Akpan Ndua, Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, for training of youths and women in specialised skills and provision of food processing equipment and agricultural inputs to cooperative groups through the Akwa Ibom State Life Enhancement Agency .
He said: “The state government has also ensured the provision of fishing equipment to groups in coastal communities, setting up of the Micro-Enterprise and Development Agency by enacting the Akwa Ibom Micro-Enterprise and Development Agency Law (AKMEDA), while 200 Akwa Ibom youth had been trained on solar panel installation/maintenance.
He cited several other projects and programmes too.
Responding on behalf of the visiting team, the team-lead, Maj. Gen. J.O. Akomolafe. commended the State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, for his industrialisation drive and support to the growth of the SMEs.
He however expressed satisfaction with the serenity and industrial friendly ambience of the capital city and the state in general.
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