To fast track the State diversification of the economy, Jigawa State Governor Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar said the Jigawa State Government had concluded a plan to boost the SME for increased production and wealth creation.
Speaking during a Courtesy call by the Management of Jaiz Bank Plc led by its Managing Director, Hassan Usman, in Government House Dutse on Tuesday.
He noted that the successful hosting of the MSME Clinic in the State under the supervision of the Vice President last week was apt considering the present economic challenges plaguing the sector and “at a time when the State government is making frantic efforts to increase economic activities by creating enabling environment for the SME to thrive.”
Badaru, who described the SME as the main engine for economic growth, expressed the government’s readiness to explore the immense economic opportunities in the sector for the State’s prosperity in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s diversification agenda.
He urged Jaiz Bank to provide affordable financing to Jigawa People to support his administration’s strategic vision and mission to empower the SME sector for productivity and wealth creation.
The vision and mission, according to him, include: creating enabling environment for SMEs to thrive, attracting domestic and foreign investors, as well as supporting large, small and medium scale enterprises. Others promote economic growth, support creation and retention of jobs, enhance innovation, productivity and competitiveness, including rising living standards and ways to reduce poverty in the state.
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Earlier, the Managing Director of Jaiz Bank, Alhaji Hassan Usman, said they were there to notify the State government of opening of a new branch in Dutse to provide first-class non-interest banking service to people of the State and order to onboard thousands of prospects as well as expand operations of the bank.
Mr Usman said opening the branches in major cities across the country aims to bring non-interest financial services closer to the people who are desirous of the banking model in areas where the bank is not physically present yet, and it says there are robust e-banking platforms that are securely accessible.