SMEs: Borno Governor disburses loans, commissions Alfa Mechanical Village

The Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has commissioned the Ultra Modern Alfa Machanic Village in Maiduguri, the State capital, in furtherance  of his administration’s resolve to engage youths and give them better business opportunities.

 

 

Engr, Adam Bababe, the Executive Secretary of Borno State Geographical Information Service, who piloted the project, while giving his welcome address at the gathering, described “the design and development of the project as being in accordance with the international best practice.”

 

“The project is designed to accommodate 633 auto Machanics,20 wheel balancing and alignment technicians, 65 panel beaters, 32 Vulcanizers, tricycle and generators technicians, 30 spare parts shop, space for office and training workshop, space for a restaurant, a mosque, 24 toilets, 2 water boreholes and their overhead tanks, a car park; and hundreds of trees were also planted-  both economic and wind breakers- to help the environment.

 

“Your Excellency, all these were achieved with a meagre budget compared to what this project stands to benefit the State and its neigbours,” said Engr. Bababe.

 

Dr. Babagana Malumbe, the Honorable Commissioner for Higher Education, Science and Technology, who was also at the ceremony, applauded Governor Zulum for graciously approving the construction of the project.

 

“My ministry will use this Mechanical Village as an industry for job assessment. may I also, in addition to what the Executive Secretary of BOGIS requested, also request for a security outpost in this yard to ensure the security and safety of the environ,”  he said.

 

The Managing Director, Borno State Micro Finance Bank, Mr. Ibrahim Bello, who also spoke at the occasion, thanked Governor Zulum for providing a befitting place for business.

 

“Empowerment of new business enterprise and servicing existing ones remain the major concern of this administration.

 

“The first quest of the loan scheme, under this administration, was flaged-off by His Excellency last year 2020 where over 14, 200 SME’s from Metropolitan and Jere Local Government Area benefited from the One Billion Naira budgeted,”  he added.

 

Governor Zulum, in his remarks said, “It is in line with the 10 pack agenda of this administration and the 25 years development plan frame work as well as 10 years strategic transformation plan.

 

“This occasion signifies a historic turning point in our quest to develop the entire State by a more than decade of insurgency.

 

“I’m personally here today to commission the Alfa-Machanic Village and also to flag-off the disbursement of loans and grants to 4250 beneficiaries of small and medium scheme”.

 

The Governor, who stressed the the importance of the loan, said the grants will add value to the State’s socio-economic activities and will also promote small-scale and medium enterprises.

 

“The government intends to do more in this direction to reduce the level of poverty to the barest minimum.

 

“I will also like to appreciate the Managing Director of Borno State Micro Finance Bank and his team for all the good work they have done.

 

“Today we shall be witnessing the disbursement of loans to various categories of people:

 

” Auto mobile technicians with about 1,250 members will receive 68 Million, 700 Thousand Naira; Tricycle and generators technicians with 1,000 members will receive 56 Million, and 50 Thousand Naira, while Post-Office Traders Association with 1,405 members will receive 75 Million, 500 Thousand Naira.

“Babanlayi electronics with about 560 members will receive 150 Million Naira.

 

“Total disbursement today will stand at 350 Million, 100 Hundred and 50 Thousand Naira,” Governor Zulum declared.