Kogi State Government has noted with regret that small an medium scale business men in the state are yet to take full advantage of the loan facility of the Bank of Industry, BOI to expand their capacity.
The government called on the private sector to take advantage of the untapped N400 million Small and Medium Enterprises loan scheme set up by the federal government with the Bank of Industry, (BOI), to boost their business.
The State Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, Ali Ajuh, stated this while speaking at the weekend during the presentation of MANCAP award to Paintiles Nigeria Limited, makers of Wura paints by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria for excellent performance in quality standard.
Ajuh explained that the Federal Government set up the N400 million Small and Medium Scheme loan for private entrepreneurs in the country, regretting that Kogi state has not in any way benefited from this Loan, as entrepreneurs in the state have not been accessing the loans.
The commissioner who was represented by a permanent secretary, Adamu Tijani, pointed out that the state Ministry of Commerce and industry has met on several occasions with the management of the Bank of Industry to ensure that SMEs in Kogi benefit from the scheme.
He noted that it is very disheartening that entrepreneurs in the state are not taking the advantage of the N400 million Loan Scheme to improve on their businesses.
Aju also commended the Management of Paintiles Nigeria Limited for the MANCAP award quality Standard, urging the company to continue to maintain the standard which the company is known for.
“It is not surprising that the Standard Organisation of Nigeria SON recognises the product, Wura Paints which was established 1992. We congratulate the management and lauded the SON for the recognition of standard” he said.
Also speaking, the Director General, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), who was represented by Kogi state Head of SON, Samson Makolo stated that Paintiles is the fifth company in the state to be award the MANCAP / NIS certificate for quality .
“The Certificate is a loan to your company and continues to remain yours on the condition that your product consistently maintain the standard specification for emulsion paints NIS 269:2008? , he stressed.
Earlier in his remarks , the Managing Director, Lasisi Kolajo commended the state government for its transformation agenda , calling on the state government and ministries to patronise the company.
“It will not be out of place if I use this forum to inform you that we need assistance of the state government in the area of patronage . We equally need the allocation of Industrial plot and the facilitation of IDB / Small and Medium Enterprises loans for medium Industrialist operating in the state” Kolajo appealed.
