03/08/2022
BYMEDA DG CALLS FOR PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP ON SME DEVELOPMENT
Multinationals and other corporate organizations operating in Nigeria have been called upon to join force with government in accelerating sustainable and inclusive growth and development of Agri-business and other aspects of SMEs in the country.
The Director General, Bayelsa State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency, Dr. (Barr.) Embeleakpo Apere made the call during the opening ceremony of the Agri-business Development and Empowerment Programme (ADE) organized by the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) at Secretariat Annex 5 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state Capital.
Dr. Apere noted that Agriculture is a substantial contributor to local, state and national economies with capacity to exert positive rippling economic effect on other sectors, adding that, for agriculture to be more impactful must be viewed as a business.
The DG noted that, the ADP was in line with the prosperity policy directive of the Governor Douye Diri-led government which tilts towards exploring all aspects of agriculture and its value-chain alongside other areas to bring prosperity to Bayelsans.
The BYMEDA Boss explained further that the Bayelsa State Microfinance Enterprise Development Agency (BYMEDA) was established by the State Government to support, encourage and develop micro, small and medium enterprises in all sectors including, Agriculture, and therefore assures of the agency’s readiness to partner organization with similar vision.
While commending SMEDAN for organizing the Agri-business Development and Empowerment programme, he pointed out that, it will help unleash and enforce agricultural transformation in Nigeria by providing support, knowledge and skill upgrading for the development and empowerment of start-ups and existing agribusiness as well as create a more efficient value chain through agricultural cooperative societies and associations.
The Director General who was represented by the Director, Human Resource Management, Mr. Temple Mondebo, therefore, urged participants to take advantage of the programme to better their lots as well as contribute to the socio-economic development of the State and Nigeria at large.
Earlier, the Director General, SMEDAN, Mr. Olawale Fasanya, said the programme (ADEP) is designed to provide functional knowledge, networking/linkages and skills upgrade to start-ups and existing cooperative societies/commodity associations in order to actualize agricultural transformation in Nigeria.
He noted that ADEP which would empower at least 150 youths and women in Bayelsa State, comprised sensitization/awareness creation, agripreneurship training and machinery support to the beneficiaries.
Also present were: the Commissioner for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Hon. Stanley Braboke, the Commissioner for Trade, Industry and Investment, Hon. Federal Otokito, the Rector, Institute of Entrepreneurship and Vocational Training, Mr. Edwin Zuobomudor among others.