Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has commenced a one-day capacity building training for Nano, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (NMSMEs) operators on the techniques needed to improve their businesses in Bauchi state.
The participants were selected across the six Northeast states of Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, Adamawa and Taraba.
Speaking during the commencement of the training, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Evelyn Ngige, said that the training was aimed at enhancing the participants’ literacy on how to access loans and credit facilities in the country.
“It is against this backdrop that the federal ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment initiated this capacity building programme to abreast the NMSMEs with the realities of financial services in the country.
“The training is also aimed at providing guidance that would enable the participants access best funding options for the growth of their businesses.
“It may interest you to note that key policy programmes for NMSMEs development are being implemented by the federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment as part of its statutory responsibility to better the lives of the citizenry,” Ngige said.
Ngige, who was represented by Mr Enyi Eche, a staff from the ministry, said that President Bola Tinubu had recently unveiled a plan for disbursement of N75 billion credit facilities to support Micro, Small and Medium business owners in the country.
According to her, similar training was being conducted in other parts of the country.
Earlier, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mahmud Ma’aji, described the move as timely and urged the participants to take full advantage of the opportunity provided to them.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Hajiya Jummai Bala, the commissioner added that the training would add to the efforts of the state government in providing better opportunities aimed at improving commercial activities.
One of the participants who spoke on behalf of others, Barsashari Sambo, lauded the federal government for the initiative and promised to use the knowledge acquired in a manner that would promote their respective businesses.