YOU WONT BELIEVE WHAT RIVERS STATE GOVERNMENT IS PLANING TO DO (PHOTOS)

Rivers State Government begins empowerment of less privileged
business entrepreneurs



Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has assured the less
privileged that his administration will take concrete steps to
empower them through micro-credit schemes that will grow small
and medium scale businesses across the state.


Wike said this while fFlagging off the N2billion Rivers State Micro,Small, and Medium
Scale Entreprises Development Fund in Port Harcourt on Saturday,
Governor Wike said the programme which is being funded through
a facility from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, will assist small
businesses have access to capital so that they can develop
faster.

In a release signed by the SA (Gov) on Electronic Media Simeon Nwakaudu,the governor noted that the State Government will serve as a
collateral for the small business owners so that they can play
more positive roles in the economic recovery of the state.

According to the governor, his administration will ensure that the
conditions for issuing out the loans by the Rivers State Micro
Finance Agency, RIMA, will be friendly enough for small and
medium sized businesses to have access to funds.

He said: "The aim of this empowerment programme is to reach
the mama-put operator, the onion seller, the barber, the table
water manufacturer and owners of medium sized businesses for
them to expand, employ more people and grow the state
economy.

"With the present reality, its  no longer feasible to rely solely on
oil revenue. Therefore, my administration will ensure that these
businesses have access to funds without stringent conditions.
This is the first batch. Those not accommodated in this batch will
be accommodated in the second batch".

The governor noted  that his administration will also extend credit
facilities to farmers in the state to enable them expand for the
purpose of the state's food security and the empowerment of a
greater percentage of the people.

According to the governor the N2billion fund will be administered
judiciously , pointing out that it will not be like the Amaechi
administration which squandered a similar facility.

In his remarks, chairman of RIMA, Rt. Hon. Austin Opara said the
Wike administration sourced the N2billion for the purpose of
empowering the less privileged.

He said the fund will be disbursed through three micro-finance
banks. He appealed to beneficiaries to repay their loans so that
the revolving scheme will be sustained.

Representative of the CBN, Mr Chinedu Zephaniah assured the
Rivers State government of the support and cooperation of the
bank to ensure the success of the scheme.

The State Government organised a seminar for beneficiaries from
the 23 Local Government Areas of the State. The Seminar was
titled "Actualizing the New Vision on Food Security,
Entrepreneurship development, poverty reduction and job creation
in Rivers State ".


See more photos after the cut :

Simeon Nwakaudu,
Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor,
Electronic Media.