The Bayelsa State Government has assured the South-South
Entrepreneurship Development Centre of the Central Bank of Nigeria
(CBN), of its collaboration in the provision of necessary facilities
to enhance their operations in the state.
Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd), represented by the
Secretary to the State Government, Chief Serena Dokubo Spiff, gave the
assurance, when oficials of the Technical advisory Committee of the
Yenagoa centre paid him a courtesy call in Government House, Yenagoa.
Rear Admiral John Jonah, who highlighted the significance of the
operations of the committee, noted that, the programmes of the CBN and
other stakeholders such as the development of small and medium
businesses should be taken as a responsibility to salvage the future
of the youths.
According to the Deputy Governor, Bayelsa is endowed with vast human
and natural resources and such programmes will create multiplier
effects in stimulating local economies and employment for the teeming
youths in the country.
He described their collaborative efforts as the building blocks to the
next millennium, stressing that, the government would embrace and
support their initiative in the state.
Earlier, Leader of the Technical Advisory Committee, Mr. Gbenga
Owolabi appealed to the government to key into the Small and Medium
Scale Enterprises Development programmes towards ensuring employment
and wealth creation.
Mr. Owolabi said the committee was looking forward to collaborating
with institutions that would advance the development of
entrepreneurial skills among Nigerian youths.
He said over 9,000 entrepreneurs have been trained with over 3,000 of
them supported with finance ranging from N10,000 to N10 million with
single digit interest rates, as a strategy to create jobs.
Commenting on the purpose of the meeting, Mr. Owolabi explained that,
it would create opportunities for more participation by people of the
state.