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| Comr. Ugwu |
An advocacy and accountability youth group, Youth Orientation Network (YON) has expressed satisfaction with the programs and policies of the Enugu State Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Agency, A developmental finance agency of the Governor Ugwuanyi led administration tasked with the purview of acting as a catalyst for job creation and facilitating easier access to resources required by entrepreneurs and investors in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), to achieve sustainable economic development in the State for their unprecedented achievements especially for empowering over 40,000 youths.
The Convener of the group, Comr. Princewill Ugwu made the appraisal on Wednesday after their first “Youthocracy series” tagged: an in-depth review of government Programs, feedback and improvements towards maximum societal productivity; youths perspective’ in Enugu.
Scoring the Enugu SME centre high, Comr. Ugwu expressed joy that Enugu youths are the first to initiate issue-based direct interface with peers and young persons in governance, he reiterated the determination of the Youth Orientation Network (YON), to ensure that young persons who were appointed or elected into various leadership positions are held accountable to ensure they do what they ought to do for the overall interest of the public.
“It gives us joy that at last, Enugu youths have become the first in Nigeria to initiate issue-based direct interface with peers and young persons in governance thereby, saying no to the menace of praise-singing without merit and embracing public accountability as the only way to ensure that youths in leadership do not become worse than some of the old folks in high places.
“We thank the Special Adviser to the Governor on SME Development and Investment Promotion, Hon. Arinze Chilo-Offiah who also doubles as the DG of Enugu SME Center, for honouring our invitation to give an account of what the Enugu SME Center have been able to achieve so far through their numerous programs and to address all lingering issues and misconceptions about Some SME Programs.
“From the Delegates’ findings, and details of his explanation, the records show that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration, through the Enugu SME Center has helped over 40,000 skilled youths, women and business start-ups with soft skills, zero interest Human Capital Development Loans & grants, access to jobs, rural community enlightenment, Agric interventions and tech skills”.
“On that premise, with 92% grade based on assessment, a “Vote of Confidence on SME Development and Investment Promotion” was passed on the administration of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. The 255 Delegates also praise the Agency for its intensive rural community awareness programs, its numerous partnerships with Private Sector as well as incubation of business ideas of the youth through its several initiatives”.
On his part, The Special Adviser to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State on SMEs and Investment Promotion, Hon. Arinze Chilo-Offiah says the Enugu SME Centre will continue to serve its purpose for rural industrialization, poverty reduction, job creation and enhanced livelihoods.
Highlighting the achievements of the Centre, Chilo-Offiah disclosed that many youths in the state have been supported through its various programmes including; Enugu SME Micro-Credit Lending Program, Enugu Loans, Guaranteed Offtake Scheme (GOS) Application, General MSME Grants, as well as Payroll Support, free business names registration for MSMEs, and Artisan Support Grant among others.
Hon. Offiah disclosed that the centre had led many training programs such as Enugu Skill-Up Apprenticeship Project (Construction Artisan Training), Enugu Tech (Programming and Program Design), Enugu Fenix Power Champions (Solar Power), Enugu Youth Empowerment Scheme (Digital Marketing), and the Auto Revamp Training Academy (Automechanic and fabrication), with programs in fashion, cyber security, data analytics amongst others aimed at enhancing the entrepreneurial skills of the people of Enugu and to alleviate the challenges of unemployment in the state.
“The Enugu SME Center partnered with private sectors known for their expertise, to ensure that the technical, professional, and vocational capacities of the youths are fully built. The Enugu Tech, in partnership with Utiva, dealt with training on programming and product design. This was born out of the conviction that tech is the future, and for Enugu to thrive, it had to have a future in tech. The presence of tech experts in Enugu can also ensure a place for tech giants like Google and Microsoft to operate in the state. Enugu Tech has graduated over 500 persons”. Hon. Offiah
Participants at the event lauded the Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the Enugu SME Center under the Leadership of Hon. Arinze Chilo-Offiah, for the various SME interventions through Skill acquisition training, availability of business loans, grants and effective public-private partnership towards economic uplift of poor masses.
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