By Olusola Oke
Akure – Ondo State Government says it has sensitised no fewer than 1,000 entrepreneurs on how to access loans to boost their economic activities.
Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu said this on Tuesday in Akure while declaring open a sensitisation workshop on Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs).
Akeredolu, represented by Mr Wale Akinterinwa, Commissioner for Finance, said that the programme was a focal point of his administration.
The governor noted that most entrepreneurs were not educated on how to access loan facilities, hence the programme.
According to him, the administration has empowered the state Micro Credit Agency to give loan to MSMEs entrepreneurs in the state.
“If the economy is to be grown, entrepreneurs must have requisite knowledge, skills with financial strength and if these are done, they will change the narratives of this country.
“A lot of them are loaded with ideas but do not know how to convert them into business and cannot have access to funding.
“This workshop will help to reduce unemployment because it will revitalise and strengthen your economic endeavours and it is coming at the right time,” he said.
He also said that his administration would always support MSME “whenever the need arises“to ensure a viable economic atmosphere in the state.
The governor urged the participants to listen attentively and take the advantage therein with a view to acquiring skills to enable them contribute to the development of the state.
Akeredolu also tasked the resource persons at the programme to be analytical, direct and simple, adding that they should be ready to answer questions posed to them adequately.
Earlier, Mrs Tola Oyebade, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Industries and Cooperatives expressed optimism that the workshop would empower the entrepreneurs and move the state forward economically.
Mr Greatsheyi Akintunde, the Chairman of Nigeria Association of Small Scale Industrialists, Ondo state chapter, described the workshop as an eye opener being waited for.
“It affords us opportunities about financial windows available for us to excel,” he said.