The Kwara State Government on Monday expressed satisfaction that more businesses are springing up in the state owing to the business friendly policies and programmes it has created to support the business community.
The government said the life wire of any economy was SMEs and promised to continue to support any initiative that provides jobs and assists the local economy.
“This administration supports any initiative that provides jobs, because the life wire of any economy is SME, and when you see a new SME coming up, the government has a duty to rally round such,” Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye told reporters in Ilorin at the launch of a new product by an SME brand, ‘Dapo Teni Nigeria Enterprises’ in the state.
Ajakaye, while commending the initiative of the owner, Olayinka Oladapo Jogunola, noted that SMEs complement the government’s efforts to create jobs for the youth.
“Certainly, a number of people will be hired through the business and for every individual that is hired the resources will trickle down, and that will continue to reduce the rate of unemployment, poverty and destitution that you may have in the society. So we are excited, as a government, to also have this company coming up, it is highly commendable. We will encourage more of such to spring up. They should rest assured that the government will continue to come up with policies and programmes that support the business community,” he added.
He said the government was doing its best to groom young entrepreneurs by providing interest-free loans for businesses through Kwapreneur, adding that more resources will be made available to expand the beneficiaries of the scheme.
“So far, so good, you have seen what is happening. The fact that you are seeing new firms springing up everywhere attests to the fact that the state is conducive for businesses. Just recently, we saw a cashew processing company that came up and several others that came up in the recent months. If Kwara is not business friendly, they will not be setting up businesses here,” Ajakaye said.
“It shows that the policies of the administration and the body language of His Excellency, the Governor, are working for all of them. Everyone, right from the top of the bureaucracy down to the bottom, now understands the need to be more supportive of businesses. And that is what you are seeing playing out.”
State Manager for Bank of Industry (BoI), Mr Harrison Osauwagboe, said the BOI provides platforms for genuine businesses to secure facilities without any back door or influence of any personality.
“BOI is here for you on anything that will create value-addition and what we focus on generally in BOI is the financing of equipment and raw materials. In the case of Teni, we bought additional equipment and raw materials for him so that his products can compete in the market and with his commitment and achievements, the future is bright for him,” he said.
