By Matthew Denis
The Governor of Zamfara State, Dr Dauda Lawal has concluded plans to partner with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to facilitate development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in Zamfara State.
This is contained in a statement signed by Moshood Lawal Head, Corporate Affairs SMEDAN on Thursday.
The statement revealed that the Governor made the disclosure at the Corporate Headquaters of SMEDAN to explore windows of collaboration, in his effort to boost development of Economic activities in the state through a deliberate strategy of making funds and opportunities available to the teeming women and youths in the State.
According to him Gusau, the Zamfara state capital was once a commercial hub of the Northern Nigeria only second to Kano,hosting industries for ginnery, tannery and other Agro-allied factories with a viable farming communities all over the state.
He decried the state’s current reputation for insecurity and banditry, emphasizing his commitment to reversing the narrative.
The Governor expressed optimism that support for the SMEs remain a veritable tool for economic development anywhere in the world, staying that his visit to SMEDAN was a deliberate effort to derive the benefits of the Agency in order to actualise his dream of making Zamfara a frontline enterprising state in the country.
On his part, the Director General of SMEDAN, Mr Charles Odii lauded the Governor for his commitment in ensuring that affordable funding is made available to the nano, micro, small and medium enterprises in the State through a counterpart funding.
He equally briefed the Governor on the Grow Nigerian Strategy that seeks to promote support for “Made in Nigeria” goods and services which has been cascaded to 8 sectoral focus namely; eat Nigerian, wear Nigerian, teach & learn Nigerian, travel Nigerian, listen and watch Nigerian, visit Nigerian, produce Nigerian, innovate Nigerian and patronize Nigerian.
The Governor made a commitment to adopt the Grow Nigerian in Zamfara as a way of promoting the products coming out from the State as well as commit required funds to actualize the proposed counterpart funding for the benefit of MSMEs in the State.