By; SULAIMAN AHMED MISAU, Katsina Katsina State Government in collaboration with Bank of Industry (BOI) has injected five billion Naira to recapitalize Micro, Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (MSME) in the state. The State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda made the known in an address he delivered at the launching of the state (MSME) growth fund and Dikko Business Development Service Corp Intervention Programme, held at the state secretariat. Governor Radda said the state government is providing three billion Naira as matching funds and manage funds, while the Bank of industry would on its part, committed two billion Naira towards the programme. Governor Radda emphasized that, the state government has identified three hundred and forty eight (348) small and medium entrepreneurs that have the growth potentials to benefit from the money. “The targeted entrepreneurs that the money is a loan package to boost their business not a grant and the state government would bear the cost of interest associated with the loan,” Governor Radda reiterated. According to the Governor the launching of the program proved the state government’s commitments to empower people and driven sustainable economic growth across the state. He said that, the programme was intended to providing tailored support and comprehensive business development services for the SME’s in the state particularly at the under served communities.
He explained that, the state government has also identified “138 BDS. Corp volunteers from across the 34 local governments who were trained on the new responsibilities of providing advisory services to micro, Small and medium entreprenuers in their local governments. “They will also assist KASEDA to monitor and report bio-monthly performance of the entrepreneurs,” Governor Radda said. Speaking earlier, Director General of the state enterprise development Agency, Hajiya Aisha Aminu Malumfashi reaffirmed commitment to ensure transparency and equity in allocating the funds to the targeted entreprenuers in the state.adding that, “this is to ensure impactful and objective in our economy.”
