The Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has reaffirmed Government’s determination to provide the enabling environment that promote and encourage small and medium scale enterprise that will fast track the growth of the socio – economic strength of the state and nation.
Governor Ikpeazu made this known in a message at the South – East Zonal Workshop and Exhibition on Change Begins With Me : Patronize Made in Nigeria Products and Services in Aba, Abia state noted that promoting and encouraging SMES to grow in the state will go a long way in stabilising the economy, political and security situation of the state by providing employment and reducing criminal activities.
Governor Ikpeazu represented by his Deputy , Sir Ude Oko Chukwu commended federal government for it’s determination and efforts to discourage Nigerians from their penchant for foreign products and services and patronize made in Nigeria Products.
He maintained that the state has put the promotion and patronage of Made in Aba products and services in the front burner as one of the strategic enablers to the economic development of the state and its citizens.
The Governor stressed that the development of the small and medium scale enterprises and entrepreneurship in the state could not be overemphasized.
The Governor expressed delight that Abians and Nigerians are beginning to realize that goods produced in Abia and other parts of the nation can compete favourably with foreign products in terms of quality and standards which has earned Aba and the state the SME hub of the nation.
He appreciated them on their choice of Aba as venue for the launch of the sensitization of Advocacy and Campaign on patronising Made in Nigeria Products and lauded National Orientation Agency for working in tandem with the Federal Government to ensure that fundamental peace and security are maintained through their various campaigns
He therefore called on Nigerians to embrace and patronize made in Nigeria products and services in order to ensure rapid growth of the nation’s economy.
Delivering an address,the Director General, National Orientation Agency NOA ,Dr Garba Abari said they are in the state to kick start the South East Zone Sensitization of Advocacy and campaign on patronizing Made in Nigeria Products emphasizing that federal government was committed towards reducing poverty and creating an enabling environment for local businesses and trades to thrive.
He ,however, restated that NOA is responding to FG policy on patronage of Made In Nigeria Products and Services through sustained citizens engagement at different levels to discourage Nigerians’ appetite for foreign goods especially for which the country has comparative advantage.
Dr Garba Abari said , pointed out that President Mohammadu Buhari in his wisdom directed the military and paramilitary to procure all their footwears locally from Aba as a way of promoting made in Nigeria goods and lauded Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for his support for SMEs promotion in the state and nation.
While describing Aba as a commercial hub in West Africa, Dr Abari pointed out that Federal Government was collaborating with the Abia State government on key policy issues that were aimed at enhancing local growth and development of industries.
He said the same event was held at all geopolitical zones across the country and emphasized Patronize Made In Nigeria Goods and Services Campaign will be replicated in all states of the federation and the FCT. There after, the NOA Community Mobilization and Orientation Officers (COMOs) will take the message down to their respective LGAs.
In a remark, the Director, National Orientation Agency, Abia state, Mrs Ngozi Okechukwu stated that the campaign was to change the mindsets of Nigerians towards increasing patronage of home made products and services along with instilling dignity of labour.
She reiterated that NOA will continue to partner relevant public and private organizations with a view to promoting culture of consumption of locally produced goods and services for overall benefit of our nation’s economy to facilitate”the axiom we grow what we eat and eat what we grow adding that FG ban on land borders which is being enforced by the Nigerian Customs Service has notably yielded agric value chain which has recorded tremendous improvements over the past months with rice growers smiling to the bank with rippled effects down the line.
Earlier,the Chairman of the occasion, a Winner of the 1996 National Productivity Merit Award and Chairman of Udeagbala Holdings ,Ide John Udeagbala proposed that the government of the day should partner and sponsor exhibitions , youth empowerment programmes and Trade Fair exhibitions inorder to deepen the trust of the business community towards the government in the realisation of the Change Begins With Me initiative.
The highlight was the presentations by Nigeria Customs Service ,Academia , SMEDAN , ACCIMA , BOI , MAN and Micro finance Banks.The Participants ranged from the PLWD, Women ,Students , Fabricators, Exhibitors,Stakeholders etc.
The Deputy Governor, the Director General, National Orientation Agency and other government Officials inspected some of the made in Nigeria Products and services exhibited at various stands at the venue.
