As part of its programme of shared prosperity, the Kwara State Government has presented a cheque for N100 million loan to artisans in the state.
This is coming on the heels of a N1 billion car loan granted to civil servants in the state.
Making the presentation at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Ilorin, the state Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, also directed the 16 local government councils in the atate to initiate similar revolving credit scheme for all artisans in their areas for them to have access to funds to boost their businesses.
Governor Ahmed said the flag-off of the N100 million revolving micro-credit for the artisans was to take the people closer to the dream of an economically vibrant informal sector in view of government’s emphasis on small business promotion under the Shared Prosperity Programme.
“I am pleased to note that the Kwara State entrepreneurship scheme, which started with N250 million in 2012, has grown to a cumulative N418 million with 1017 cooperative groups benefitting so far,” Ahmed said.
He directed all ministries, departments and agencies in the state to patronize the Kwara State Artisans Congress with the 16 local government councils to do the same, saying that the era in which Artisans from neighboring countries receive preference in terms of patronage was over.
The governor said government’s determination to fund the state’s Artisans Congress was because they are important to the economic development of the state and deserve all necessary support.
“Besides, it is part of our strategies to address the problem of unemployment, reduce poverty and boost the economic wellbeing of our people in tangible ways,” the governor noted.
He further emphasized that the loan was not to be considered as part of government’s largesse, but should be seen as a revolving fund to be recouped and made available to other members.
In his address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour Matters, Comrade Bisi Fakayode, said the initiative for the loan scheme for artisans had made skilled workers to be more viable and productive through cross fertilization of ideas among them.
Fakayode said each affiliated self-employed artisans’ group were mandated to register a cooperative society with the Ministry of Commerce for easy access to the revolving loans.
He added that all the 47 identified self-employed groups that registered under the umbrella body of Kwara Artisans Congress have been fully certified by the Ministry of Commerce to access the loan.
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