The quickest way to alleviate poverty is through SMEs – Commissioner
The Kogi State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Honourable Gabriel Yunusa Olofu has affirmed that adequate support for Small and Medium Enterprise was the quickest way to alleviate poverty, saying that SMEs development remains a serious focus of Governor Yahaya Bello’s administration.
The Commissioner also made it known that the New Direction’s Agenda aimed to do more in massive empowerment of youth by ensuring that small businesses in the state were given the needed support to thrive.
He made this known on Tuesday in an exclusive interview with InsideStory crew at his office in the Secretariat, Lokoja.
The Commissioner noted that on assumption of office, he discovered the existence of an already signed law for the establishment of the Kogi State Enterprise Development Agencies which would facilitate an enabling environment for small enterprises to progress.
He expressed that the Governor has charged them towards selfless and dedicated service to the state and the people and such charge would drive his actions in the office he occupies.
Hon. Olofu noted that his office following the guidance of the New Direction blueprint would ensure that the youths were further engaged in profitable commercial ventures thereby reducing youth’s restiveness to its barest.
He affirmed that efforts were already being made to secure international and National supports and collaborations to source loans, grants and needed capitals that could boost already established small businesses.
The Commissioner highlighted that some industries within the state which went under could also be revived if offered the needed support noting that such could reduce the unemployment rate in the state.
‘We are going to put more attention on strengthening existing small businesses and encourage new ones because we understand the importance of SMEs to the economic development of Kogi State.” he said.
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