As part of efforts to strengthen and stimulate the Kogi business environment and the growth and expansion of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state, Gov. Yahaya Bello has assured that his administration will create the enabling environment for employment opportunities for the teeming youth.
Gov. Bello stated this at the Kogi State Micro Small and Medium Enterprise, (MSME) workshop organized in commemoration of the first International MSME Day in the state on Wednesday, in Lokoja.
The governor promised to create over 500,000 new businesses in the state before the expiration of his tenure in 2024, adding that this was intended to support the growth and expansion of MSMEs as drivers of the economy.
According to him, MSME are the major drivers of economic growth, especially in non industrialised society.
Governor Bello added that through entrepreneurship, MSME will broaden the spectrum of opportunity available to all people of the state to become financial independent.
He noted that his administration established Kogi Enterprise Development Agency (KEDA) to encourage entrepreneurship and to help coordinate and cater for immediate and long term needs that would gainfully engage, and empower the teaming youths.
Bello who lauded his administration for setting the agenda for business growth in the state, faulted past administrations for the dearth of proper structure to cater for the needs of the business environment.
He lamented that for a very long time, people have depended on government to drive the economy thereby leading to the over bloating of the state workforce.
“Upon assumption in office, I discovered that Kogi had no structure on ground to coordinate and cater to the the immediate and long-term needs of the business environment in the state.
“Hence, my administration swung into action with the urgent need to gainfully empower and engage our teeming youths.”
“I made it top on my priorities in my agenda to create the agency to build a thriving economy which I call the Youth Engagement and New Venture Creation to dissipate the myths of the Civil Service State through enterprenuership, as this will broaden the spectrum of opportunities in the business environment“, he said.
In her welcome address, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer KEDA, Hajia Rakiya Onaivo Sanni lauded the Gov. Yahaya Bello administration’s smart initiative which birthed the agency, noting that this was in tandem with her passion for the business enterprise.
Sanni disclosed that the agency was initiating a business clinic to improve the ease of doing business in the state and further transform its economic status.
She explained that the clinic will strengthen Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and boost their capacities.
