The Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, has said that his administration will continue to provide an enabling environment for small scale businesses to thrive.
Oyetola said this in Oshogbo on Wednesday during an engagement programme of the Civic Engagement Office with members of the Association of Mobile Telecommunication Engineers of Nigeria, Osun State Chapter.
The governor spoke through his Special Adviser on Civic Engagement, Honourable Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, saying that Osun remained a fertile ground for businesses to thrive.
He said since its inception, his administration had been embarking on infrastructural development, providing soft loans for small businesses, ensuring adequate security, as well as, coming up with tax-friendly policies for business owners.
Through the state’s Microcredit Agency, the governor said his administration had empowered 5,296 small scale business owners with over N2 billion to expand their businesses.
He also noted that the state government, through the agency, had also disbursed about N91 million to different categories of informal sector operators in the state.
“My administration will continue to promote small scale industries through initiatives, programmes and policies that will build business confidence, and encourage them through the provision of grants and loans.
“Small businesses contribute to local economies by bringing growth and innovation to the community in which the businesses are established. They also help to stimulate economic growth by providing employment opportunities for the people.
“Small businesses tend to attract talent who invent new products or implement new solutions for existing ideas,” he said.
Oyetola added that it was in the realisation of the economic benefits of the small scale businesses that his administration had been putting in place the necessary infrastructure for businesses to thrive.
According to him, small scale businesses are a vital part of the economy, which no government will want to play with.
The governor, who commended members of the association for their support for his administration, urged them to also support his re-election in July 16 governorship election in the state.
On his part, the President of the association, Andulrasak Ejalonibu, commended the governor on various friendly business policies for the survival of small scale businesses in the state.
He urged the governor to continue to support members of the association with soft loans to boost their businesses.
He also urged the governor to organise training for members of the association to enhance their efficiency in the business.
Ejalonibu promised that members of the association would mobilise votes for the governor in the forthcoming election.
Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]
