Edo govt. connects 600 entrepreneurs to funding

Edo Government says it will sustain reforms and programmes that guarantee business growth in the state.

It also promised to ensure that businesses had access to funding and an enabling environment to succeed and contribute to the state’s economy.

The Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Cooperatives, Mrs Afishetu Braimoh, said this at the opening of the second phase of a financial literacy workshop for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), on Tuesday in Benin.

She said that the workshop, aimed at enabling MSMEs to have access to funding to grow their businesses, was organised in collaboration with GIZ/SEDIN-GOPA.

The commissioner said that the gesture was to ensure that an enabling environment was created, while businesses had access to funding to succeed and, in turn, contribute to the state’s economy.

According to her, the state government is linking the first batch of more than 200 successful participants to credit sources.

Braimoh said: “During the first phase of the workshop, the Manager of Benin Office of Bank of Industry (BOI) sensitised participants on how to benefit from EDSG-BOI MSMEs funds worth over N2 billion.”

One of the facilitators at the workshop, Mr Iyoha John, commended the state government for creating a platform for MSMEs to acquire skills in order to improve their businesses.

He said that the programme also equipped participants with the requisite knowledge to increase sales and expand their customer base.

A participant, Miss Doris Izienosa, commended the programme, saying that it was an inspiring moment for her as a small-scale business owner in Edo.

“The programme has opened my eyes to some shortcomings in my business. It is a platform to learn how entrepreneurs can take their businesses to the next level,” Izienosa, a palm oil producer based in Benin, said. (NAN)