Faith groups invited to promote small and medium enterprises
CONN/400705
Abuja, July 13, 2005- A proposal by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) wants Faith Based Organizations (FBO’s) to consider setting up capacity building funds that would enable small and medium businesses thrive.
Under the proposal, funds for the establishment of the small and medium enterprises will be sourced from interested donor partners and internal machineries of faith groups.
Adherents of faith groups would be trained on how to imbibe basic business skills such as- book-keeping, accounting, taxation advisory and the use of information technology.
Another key feature of the initiative is the commissioning of a corps of volunteer professionals vested with the responsibility of mentoring prospective entrepreneurs in different areas of business interests.
At an interactive session with the representatives of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Director General of SMEDAN, Mrs. Dupe Adeleja said FBO’s were capable of providing economic empowerment through well developed local small and medium enterprises.
She said SMEDAN was consulting with International donors, Islamic and Christian organizations with a view to providing information on the expected benefits of the programme and roles expected of them.
Represented by Mr. Olufemi Adebiyi, Group Head Enterprise Promotions Management and Extension Services, the SMEDAN boss said the promotion of small and medium enterprises would ensure the reduction of pervasive poverty in the country.
Responding, the Director of Social Welfare of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Ven Dr. Christian Ebisike said the Church was committed to the holistic presentation of the gospel- which included the welfare of the members.
He said government initiatives in the past failed because of the will power, commitment and continuity of political office holders and administrators.
He, therefore, pledged the commitment of the Anglican Church to ventures that would develop Nigerians into being more economic independent without compromising their faith.
Other representatives of the Church present at the parley were Canon Obioma Onwuzurumba, Mrs. Deborah Gazuma and Dame Adline Uwanaka.
Small and medium enterprises constitute the major sources of output, income and poverty alleviation in developed and developing countries.
In the European Union (EU), Small and Medium Enterprises generate over 60 million jobs and contribute nearly 21 per cent of the total output of the collective economy of the countries in the Union.
Nigeria is yet to fully reap the benefits of small and medium enterprises in economic development.
SMEDAN is the federal government agency charged with promoting entrepreneurial development in the country.
