To boost business performance and viability, governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has distributed enhancement tools to 300 Micro and Small Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state.
The empowerment scheme, which was executed by the Kogi Enterprise Development Agency (KEDA) in partnership with the World Bank, was done in two batches.
Over 100 MSMEs benefitted from it yesterday while more than 200 were reached in the first batch.
The managing director of KEDA, Hajiya Rekiya Onaiovo, said the beneficiaries were selected, out of the 60,000 registrations received by the agency, following a thorough screening in a bid to meet up with the very high evaluation conditions of partners.
Some of the items given to the MSMEs to enhance their operations included laptops, desktops, tablets, internet devices, POS machines, projectors, printers, android phones and other ICT business enhancing devices.
The KEDA MD explained that the distribution of the equipment, under the Kogi Cares Result Area 3 “and specifically the Delivery Linkage Indicator (DLI) 3.3”, were initially part of the Kogi government’s response to the biting effects of the Covid-19 lockdown period on Micro and Small Enterprises.
She said ICT could facilitate connectivity and businesses could also maximize the internet space to conduct their business irrespective of their location and surrounding circumstances, warning that beneficiaries must not dispose of the tools as they had signed a contract in that regard.
Onaiovo said KEDA under the leadership of Governor Bello had ensured even distribution of the tools across the 21 local government areas of the state.
Governor Bello, who was represented at the event by the secretary to the state government, Dr Folashade Arike Ayoade, noted that his administration was truly concerned about small business owners in the state and was making every effort to create an enabling environment for them to thrive.
Governor Bello added that the ICT tools distributed to the beneficiaries must be used judiciously to improve their businesses and ultimately contribute to the economic advancement of the state and reduce poverty.
He said the state alongside the partners of KEDA, would jointly ensure robust monitoring of the proper utilisation of the tools distributed, pointing out that the state government would be willing to do more when commendable feedback was received.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Ali Yakubu Umar, CEO Kakanda TV Prime production, appreciated the kind gesture of the state government.