Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State
Abia unveils SME Business Directory, empowers 1, 000 small businesses
From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia
Abia State government has used the occasion of the celebration of the 2022 World Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Day to launch the Abia SME Business Directory, with Governor Okezie Ikpezu explaining that his administration was paying much attention to in order to exploit the entrepreneurial potentials of people of the state, even as the admistration has empowered over 1, 000 businesses.
The Abia SME Directory contains vital information on businesses operating as SME in the state and their areas of specialties to make for easy contacts and access.
At the 2022 World SME Day held at Michael Okpara Auditorium Umuahia, Ikpeazu said that people of the State were gifted with entrepreneurial prowess and ingenuity which informed his decision to mainstream SME and to create the Ministry of SME in the state.
He noted that his administration has encouraged over 1000 businesses between 2015 till date, promising that with Abia State being the SME capital of Nigeria, the state government would continue to encourage and support more businesses to thrive.
The Governor noted funding and patronage were essential in SME development, and encouraged all who may want to venture into SME to think of the power embedded in them, adding that such entrepreneurs must be willing to learn and act and also exhibit honesty.
He recalled that Abia State has consistently won national awards in the SME sub- sector since 2015, and commended and awardee from Abia, Mr Tochukwu Clinton Chukwueke, who emerged the Access bank overall MSME of the year award with the sum of One million Naira.
Ikpeazu also presented winners who were selected for their business proposals with start-up funds ranging from N250, 000 – N750, 000 naira each.
Earlier, Commissioner for Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Lady Adaku Oseiza, had assured that the state was not lagging behind in SME development as Abia SME has scored many firsts, including the setting up of Enyimba Automated Shoe Company and establishing an SME bank to helping small businesses to thrive, among others.
She noted that Abians have consistently won various categories of MSME annual awards, sponsored by the office of the Vice President, stressing that Abia SME under Governor Ikpeazu has made progress and could eminently pass the international best practices parameter set up by the United Nations.
The ceremony witnessed goodwill messages from stakeholders in the SME sector, including the Manager, Abia Microfinance Bank and representative of SMEDAN, while the Governor later unveiled the first Abia SME business directory.
