Delta State Government has proposed over three billion naira for the state Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency for next year.
Executive Secretary, DESMEDA, Doctor Godwin Adolor who defended its agency budget estimates before the inter-ministeral budget committee in Asaba, gave assurances that the agency would continue to build on the successes recorded in the outgoing year.
The DESMEDA Executive Secretary who highlighted the three cardinal pillars that MSME rests on, hinted that the agency would continue to provide access to finance, access to market and access to capacity building .
He commended the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for according priority to the growth and development of micro, small and medium enterprises in the state, which according to him, are key to the survival of any state or country.
”In 2026, we will continue to go with the three cardinal points that an MSME is all about. We will provide access to finance ; access to market; and access to capacity building. And with these three cardinal points, we should be able to MSME across the state. It means they will get the opportunity to get funding; they will have the opportunity to learn how to trade their goods and services, and they will also have the opportunity to have sufficient knowledge to grow their businesses. Of course, you know that businesses have failed as a result of knowledge for the businesses. Number of persons went into businesses they don’t have the knowledge to do but we can continue to train to ensure that we inculcate the knowledge in them that can make them do well. You must not rely only on your own personal experiences. You must continue to learn from the experiences of other people who have been successful in that businesses, that way you can succeed, and do the business for years without folding up”, Adolor asserted.
Speaking further on the successes recorded in the outgoing year, the DESMEDA Executive Secretary said the agency in collaboration with the Wife of the Delta Governor, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, provided grants of one hundred and fifty thousand naira each to three hundred and twenty rural women who are into creative industry..
”We have also given grants to MSME traders in the state. We did one recently. We empowered 320 rural women who are into creative industry. We gave them grant of 150, 000 to enable them continue their businesses, and they were happy for the grant. We did that with the collaboration with the office of the first lady, the wife of the governor, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori”, Adolor stated.
He said the agency had concluded arrangements to organize the first Delta State Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Summit in December aimed at bringing all the operators in the industry today including financial institutions, and trainers for the benefits of traders.
According to Doctor Adolor, the agency has successfully identified the real MSME in the state, and those who are doing the businesses for the purpose of ensuring that government grants get to the real operators of micro, small and medium enterprises in the state.
Continuing, Adolor stated, ”In this ongoing year, the agency has done quiet a lot. We have been able to identify who are the real MSME in the state, who are the people doing business in one form or the other whether micro, small and medium.Who are they? With this identification, it is enabling us to be able to train them.”
”And we have on the burner the First Delta State Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Summit, and it’s to be hosted in December this year. It’s a major thing that will be done. And with that, we should be able to bring all MSME operators together, those who provide finance , those who can train and develop them to make sure that they become successful in business. We are bringing them together to interface, and come out with solutions for a Way forward”, Adolor added.
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