Kwara State Governor Approves N100m SME Funds To Market Associations

The Kwara state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has approved the release of N100million small and medium enterprises (SME) funding to the market associations in the state.

Besides, the governor said beneficiaries of the SME fund will henceforth be treated on the basis of association while all illegal motor parks in the state will be abolished.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting held with Artisans, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and Market Association at Banquet Hall, Ilorin recently, Ahmed said that it was in fulfilment of his pledge.

According to him, “the SME funding we promised the market association is ready for collection and also other support required by the different associations in form of buses, secretariat and other minor supports, would be attended to”.

The governor said members of the artisan groups would be patronised under the forthcoming State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) projects in order to enhance the economic status and wellbeing of their members.

He appealed to all associations and groups to work hand-in-hand with the Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) to make tax collection in the state easy and to also ensure that taxes are applied to the benefit of contributors.

The governor gave assurance that the interactive meeting will be held on monthly basis to review activities, stressing that governance requires inclusiveness.

Earlier, the Director-General, Bureau of SME in the State, Mr. Segun Soewu recalled that about N2.2billion had been committed to SME in the state.