Enugu Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Centre on Monday, revealed that over 6,000 businesses have benefitted from its Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) formalisation grant.
The Director General of the centre and Special Adviser to Enugu State Governor on SMEs, Arinze Offiah, explained that the beneficiaries consisting of 4,263 men and 2,500 women were also assisted with Tax Identification Number (TIN) registration and corporate account opening with Union Bank.
Offiah said the gesture was in resonance with the goal of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration to support Micro, Small and Medium enterprises grow in the state.
He further revealed that the beneficiaries were drawn from the following sectors: Advertising/Media, Agriculture and Agriculture Value Chain, Creative Industry, Education, Healthcare, Logistics, Manufacturing and Trading.
He appreciated the state government, Federal government, as well as the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for making it possible for Enugu business owners benefit from the scheme, adding that they hoped to increase the number to 10,000 by the end of December, 2022.
Some of the beneficiaries were excited upon selection and thanked the Enugu SME Centre.
One of the beneficiaries said that with the formalisation with CAC, he could now approach corporate organisations to do business with them.
“Words won’t be enough to express how I feel about this certificate and corporate account. I have been denied several jobs because of this but the centre made it easy for at no cost.
“When I was asked to apply for the formalisation process, I thought it was one of those government rhetoric that never happens. I decided to give it a try since it was free. I couldn’t believe I now have an account with the bank and a business name registered with the commission,” Ejike Ude said.
