Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has assured that he is committed to ensuring the interventions of the National Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange work in Abia State.
The Governor stated this while receiving in audience, the President of the Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Otunba Abimbola Ogunbanjo and his team at Government House, Umuahia.
He expressed happiness over the interventions of the Council in SMEs in Abia State Governor Ikpeazu said he was ready to collaborate with the Council in finding ways to untie bottlenecks in the growth of SMEs in Abia State including educating the small scale entrepreneurs on how to benefit from the opportunities available in the Council.
He informed his Quests that he has created the needed ambience for the SMEs to grow in the State adding that having identified and made SME a pillar of development in the State, he ensured that Artisans were assisted to undergo training overseas on automated shoe making which has strengthened the capacity of the State in the export of shoes to neighbouring countries as well as promoted leather and garment products in Abia State.
The Governor who commended the National Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange for creating platform that would support the growth of SMEs in Abia State.
He,however, specifically appreciated the core investor in Golden Guinea Breweries, Chief Okey Nzenwa for the good job he did that brought back Golden Guinea to life. Chief Nzenwa was part of the delegation.
Earlier, the President of the Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Otunba Abimbola Ogunbanjo commended Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for his efforts in the development of SME in Abia State and said he was aware of the Governor’s policy guidelines and the trainings he conducted for the SME entrepreneurs.
He said that he was aware that SMEs must have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, hence they came to listen to the SME entrepreneurs in the State and find a way of assisting them.
He disclosed that numerous opportunities are available and his establishment is ready to assist the SMEs in the state excel adding that the Council wants the Small & Medium Scale Companies in Abia State to leverage on the opportunities available in the Nigerian Stock Exchange to thrive in business.
Deputy Governor Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, Secretary to Government, Barrister Chris Ezem and some members of the State Executive Council were present at the event.
