Cov /Usman MZ, Jigawa
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria SMEDAN, has inaugurated Council on the implementation of the National Policy on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises MSMEs for Jigawa state.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Dutse, the Director General, Dr Dikko Raddah said the council was inaugurated to facilitate access of MSMEs resources required for development.
Represented by the coordinator of the agency in charge of Northwest zone, Alhaji Ahmad Madaki explained that the agency was established in 2003 to facilitate the development of MSMEs sector in a structured and efficient manner.
According to him, the main objective of the National Policy is to facilitate and sustain a vibrant MSMEs sub-sector which is the driver of national economic growth and employment
He said accelerating the profitable expansion of existing MSMEs along chain of development, would ensure more micro businesses become small, small to medium and medium become large.
Dr Radda said the functions of the state council was to foster increased awareness and ensure stakeholders buy-in on MSMEs development programs, initiatives and projects, address and resolve all cross cutting issues affecting the development of the MSMEs sub-sector in the state.
Others are to ensure synergy among MSMEs related agencies in the state, to ensure National Policy on MSMEs meets the intended goals and submit periodic reports to the National Council on MSMEs.
In a remark, Permanent Secretary Jigawa State Ministry of Commerce, Barrister Lawan Baba noted that the state had initiated policies geared towards promoting and enhancing MSMEs.
According to him, having state council on the implementation of the National Policy on MSMEs is timely and will fast track economic development of the state as well as improve wellbeing of the people of Jigawa state.
Also speaking the Vice President of Jigawa State Chamber of Commerce, Alhaji Awwal Garba noted that MSMEs contribute between eighty and ninety per cent of job creation in the state.
Members are drawn from Bank of Industry, Industrial Training Fund ITF, Corporate Affairs Commission, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Federal Inland Revenue Service, and Bank of Agriculture
Others include Standard Organization of Nigeria, Agricultural Association of Nigeria, National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Nigeria Association of Small Scale Industrialists, among others.