Mariam Katagum Yalwaji, the minister of state for industry, trade and investment, has disclosed that the Federal Government through the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) would be training 200 women entrepreneurs on the shea butter value chain across the country.
The minister disclosed this on Wednesday while declaring open the Bauchi State 1st National Trade and Exhibition Fair with the theme, “the New National Economic Recovery and Growth Plan and Eventual Diversification of Nigeria’s Economy; the Role of Small and Medium Enterprises held in Bauchi, Bauchi State.
Yalwaji said that the targeted beneficiaries would be trained on best practices in shea-nut picking and shea-butter processing. “At the end of the training, the women organisations will receive the complete set of shea-butter processing equipment to continue with the project”.
The minister, who said the theme of the trade fair was in line with the present administration’s policy that was aimed at putting the Nigerian economy on a path of sustained, inclusive and diversified growth as well as job creation, reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to provide both financial and technical assistance to small and medium enterprises to ensure their products meet international standards.
The minister called on stakeholders in the sector to support government’s efforts at strengthening the capacity of small businesses for job opportunities and ensure rural development.
She said that, “the role of the business community, development partners, state governments and trade promotion activities like this cannot be over-emphasised. I therefore wish to appeal to all stakeholders to draw inspiration and strategic direction from the Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP) to articulate their economic programmes, particularly in the development of the real sector in order to revitalise the economy and create the enabling environment for business to thrive”.
She commended Bauchi State government for its support in creating an enabling environment to host the 1st edition of the fair.
Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed said that his government has approved the constitution of a committee for the privatization of all the moribund industries in Bauchi State, adding that, the constitution of the committee was in recognition of the importance of small and medium enterprises in the state in line with his economic policies.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Baba Tela believed that the recommendations of the committee would go a long way in improving and revitalization of industries.
Mohammed said the 1st national trade and exhibition fair would open window of cooperation between government, private sector and small scale entrepreneurs to interface, exchange ideas and promote synergy for national growth and development.
According to him, the fair and exhibition are essentially an event meant to exhibit goods and services to potential buyers in addition to networking to private organisations to grow customer base for the development of business relationship.
“The seemingly high level of carpentry works going on in both the pavilion and open spaces for participants to have the necessary exhibition stand to display their commodities is another means of livelihood to our local entrepreneurs and teeming unemployed youth. I am pleased to draw the attention of the organizers of this trade and exhibition fair and all the stakeholders to ensure its sustenance and start making proactive step towards reviving the traditional North East Joint Domestic Trade Fair in the near future”.
President, Bauchi State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BACCIMA), Habu Jajere explained that the trade fair was organised as part of efforts to revive regional trade fair in the zone in addition to providing conducive environment for the Federal Government to educate stakeholders on the new national economic agenda and strategies for diversification with particular emphasis on small and medium enterprises.
