The Government of Bauchi State claims to have budgeted N300 million to fast track the growth of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs).
The Commissioner for Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises, Hajiya Sa’adatu Kirfi disclosed at the inauguration of the Kaura Economic Empowerment Programme (KEEP), on Saturday in Azare, headquarters of Katagum Local Government Area.
She claimed that the action will increase trade and wealth creation for sustainable social and economic development of the state.
“The money will be disbursed to business community any moment from now,” she said.
According to her, the KEEP scheme is in line with the promise of the present administration, adding that economic strengthening items worth N75 million would be distributed to youth and women in the area.
She said that 9,500 persons had so far benefited from the programme in 19 LGAs since inception of the scheme.
“The KEEP programme initiated by this administration to address issues of unemployment through increased access to entrepreneurship and improved employability of youth and women,” she said.
The Commissioner urged the urged the beneficiaries to ensure effective utilisation of the items and engage in productive activities to enable them to become self-reliant.
The Azare Ultra Modern Market project’s groundbreaking event was officiated by Governor Bala Mohammed.
He stated that the project would be carried out through a Public Private Partnership (PPP), in order to improve the state’s economic fortune.
According to him, a private firm, Modern Shelter System and Service Ltd, would carry out the project while the state government would give the land under the PPP arrangement.
“In line with the decision to execute the project through PPP, the state government has engaged Modern Shelter System and Service Limited to carry out the construction and upgrade of Azare market to an Ultra Modern service,” he said.
Earlier, the company’s general manager, Mr. Abdulmalik Mhadi, said that the market was built with modern facilities and that it would generate roughly 1,000 direct and indirect jobs as a result of the project.
He provided assurance that the project would be finished on time.
