In a bid to boost the capacity of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the nation’s capital city and its environs, the Management of Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA), has disclosed its intention to establish a state-of the-art Digital Academy.
The acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AEA, Mr. Chudi Ugwuada-Ezirigwe made the disclosure while briefing members of the FCT Ministry Press Corps on its activities and future projections during the end of the year media parley in Abuja.
According to the acting CEO, the Centre which is expected to serve as a central hub for SMEs, would in addition, deepen SMEs business activities as well as open new market opportunities.
Mr. Ezirigwe also hinted that aside the establishment of a Digital Academy, plans are underway to set up a world-class Automobile Service Centre and an Enterprise Incubation Hub, in a bid to give young people the platform to put their potentials to productive use.
He stressed that the overall objective was to make Abuja stand out as the leading city for entrepreneurial development in Nigeria.
He further stated that the Agency was also working assiduously to support the growth of 150,000 MSMEs, expand the provision of business development services to cover 50,000 MSMEs, strengthen the entrepreneurial eco-system synergy coordination as well as position FCT as a clean energy city.
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Dwelling extensively on the achievements of the Organisation within the period under review, the AEA boss outlined few key milestones to include:
- Financing of 4,761 businesses, Sensitisation and promotion of entrepreneurship to 9,557 people
- Provisionof business support services to 3,691 rural entrepreneurs in the six Area Councils of FCT
- Foster dialogue and interactive sessions between MSMEs and Regulatory Organisations
- Engagement with the community and rehabilitation of Cassava Processing Centre in Chikuku in Kwali Area Council and
- Revitalisation of Shea Butter Project Concept in Abaji Area Council.
In the area of corporate partnership, the acting MD acknowledged the European Union as a formidable partner for supporting the Agency in the growth of SMEs; KOICA and JICA for building staff capacity, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for business registration and incorporation facilitation, as well as SMEDAN for midwifing business funding and NIDTA for information technology training for the staff of the Agency, amongst others.
Mr.Ezirigwe used the occasion to pledge the support of the Management and Staff of Abuja Enterprise Agency to the Minister of FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike and the Minister of State, FCT, Hajiya Mariya Momoud in their efforts to provide enduring infrastructure in the nation’s capital city of Abuja in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
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