FCTA to refocus, fund Abuja Enterprise Agency – Akinjide

The Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, on Wednesday disclosed that the Administration would refocus and improve the funding of Abuja Enterprise Agency to enable it realise its mandate.
Akinjide, who made this known while receiving members of the AEA Board in her office, urged the agency to come up with more innovative projects and programmes such as the Shea Butter initiative that would generate employment and create wealth.
The AEA, which was established in 2005, is the FCT vehicle for small and medium enterprise development, wealth creation, employment generation and poverty reduction.
Akinjide said: “The issue of employment generation, poverty reduction and wealth creation is of top priority to the FCT Administration.
“It is at the heart of the transformation agenda. We will refocus, re-energize and increase the funding of AEA so as to achieve its objectives.
“While the Administration is committed to funding the AEA, I will also advise that the agency devise ways of attracting multilateral funds. We are encouraged by the commitment of members of the board of the agency, and I want to assure that the FCT Administration will support the agency.”
Earlier, the Director of Admin and Finance in the Social Development Secretariat, Alhaji Salisu Kallamu, who represented the chairman of the Board, explained that the agency was assisting new and existing entrepreneurs to overcome obstacles to growth through access to finance, proper business planning and development of entrepreneurship skills.
“The agency is constantly working towards provision of qualitative training and motivation for entrepreneurs, mentoring for start-ups and access to time bound financial services through the establishment of Kwali Micro Finance Bank with branches in all the area councils within the territory,” Kallamu stated.
He solicited the support of the FCT Administration to enable it execute its projects and programmes such as the establishment of Abuja Talent Academy, NYSC Entrepreneurship Programme and Abuja Creative Enterprise Group, among others.
Meanwhile, Akinjide has appointed Aisha Abubakar as the acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Abuja Enterprise Agency.
Abubakar replaces the former Managing Director of the agency, Altine Jibrin, who has retired from the civil service.