The Director General of the Cross River State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (MEDA), Mr. Great Ogban has said the season of sweetness will be positively impactful on entrepreneurs in the State, as the Governor Sen (Prince) Bassey Otu will strengthen the business community in the state and make it viable.
Mr. Ogban made the Governor’s objectives for the business community known during his visit to the secretariat of Nigerian Association Of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) in Calabar, as part of his assessment tour that is aimed at having official engagement with business owners in the state to know their challenges and how government can proffer solutions through his agency.
In a welcome address, Mr. James Alicha, Chairman of NASME, who welcomed the MEDA boss to their secretariat, applauded the Governor for appointing a man who has vast knowledge of the business community in the state, described the appointment of Mr. Great Ogban as fitting for the agency, adding that NASME is an umbrella body for small and medium scale enterprises that was founded by the Central Bank of Nigeria and Bank of Industry for the organizing of small and medium businesses in Nigeria.
Speaking further, he noted that NASME is committed to growing the economy of Cross River State which is why they are advocating for promotion of SME activities in the state for revenue generation, enumerated part of the entrepreneur’s challenges to include lack of access to funds and cost of acquiring funds .
The NASME women leader, Dr. EKate’s Vincent also appealed for support through loans and grants to women, as they mostly operate the Nano businesses in the state, same was also done by the youth leader, Mr. Declan Ogar who said the youth are the drivers of every economy and as such needs government support to make them proactive in the entrepreneurial sector.
The MEDA Boss, Mr. Great Ogban, in his remarks applauded NASME for keeping afloat the business commercial environment in the state, assured them of partnership with his agency for the delivery of Governor Bassey Otu’s vision which is strengthening the business sector and making it viable. Adding, he said his agency has a strategic plan that will be developed to accommodate the digital and creative sector in the state, as Government will also give out loans and grants to support business owners upscale their business.
Present at the event was Mr. Great Ogban-Director General of MEDA, Dr. James Alicha-NASME State Chairman, Sir John Odo-NASME State secretary, Dr. Ekaete Ukpon-NASME women leader, Mr. Declan Ogar – NASME youth leader, Staff and members of NASME.
