……Event to be held annually
By Our CORRESPONDENT
The Federal Government has promised to work with Local Government Councils in order to reduce the high rate of poverty and unemployment in the country.
The Minister of Special Duties and Inter- Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume made this known on Thursday in Abuja at the closing ceremony of the first edition of Association of Local Governments in Nigeria, ALGON made- in – Nigeria Exhibition/ Trade fair.
Akume said for the Buhari administration to succeed in moving 100m Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10years, there is need to partner with stakeholders who are involved in grassroots governance in order to address the need for fast tracking and stimulating the rural economy.
The Minister who was represented by the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Mrs. Mariam Abdulmalik, said that government has put policies and programs in place that will help improve the lot of Micro, small, and medium enterprises, MSMEs in the 774 Local Government Areas.
” It is our belief as a ministry that by building synergy and strengthening the on- going efforts of Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and Raw Materials Research and Development Council, RMRDC through their Lease Operate and Own Scheme, LOPOS and one Local Government, one Product, ONLOP programs to rapidly industrialize our communities, we can deliver over 4million jobs annually.
‘‘I strongly believe it has showcased the individual economic peculiarities and comparative advantages of the local governments to create the desired appeal to prospective investors’’ he stated.
He stressed the need for the three tiers of government to be well coordinated so as to align their economic development efforts and empower the 774 Local Government Councils to drive value addition economic activities on primary raw materials/ commodities and natural endowments at the Council Wards, making it possible for the ward to serve as Presidential Economic Development Districts that will serve as the building blocks of a re-engineered Nigeria Economy built from the bottom up.
The Minister also commended RED SAPPHIRE Nigeria limited, the organisers of the event and also assured them of the Ministry’s readiness to work with them and all stakeholders to make the 2022 Edition a huge success.
In her remark, the Minister of State, FCT, Dr. Ramatu Tijani Aliyu commended all stakeholders who contributed in various ways to the success of the event.
The Minister who was represented by her Special Adviser on FCT Social Investment Programme and focal person and social investment program, Mrs Chiwendu Eteyen Amba, stressed the importance of empowering the grassroot if the nation must get it right; she also assured the organisers of the Ministry’s support in the next edition.
Mrs Amba therefore advised all relevant stakeholders at the rural communities to improve on lessons gathered, collaborate and create a rural community that is envied by all.
Also, Director of Administration, National Cotton Association, Mr Ado Sule explained that the PMB lead administration revived the industry which has employed some Nigerian youths and created revenue.
Sule noted that the industry is a readily available substitute for oil as the cotton association is set to partner with the local government chairmen to conduct a sensitization exercise which will expose the youth in the rural communities to the benefits embedded in cotton.
The Chief Consultant/ Coordinator of the programme and CEO of Red Sapphire Nigeria limited, Mr Ono Akpe gave glory to God for making this year’s event a success, despite the huge challenges during the three months preparation.
He called on the 774 local government councils to participate fully in the next edition because ALGON MADE- IN – NIGERIA EXHIBITION/ TRADE FAIR is now a yearly event.
Mr Akpe also stress the need for government at all levels, especially the local governments to integrate with the cotton association of Nigeria in order to reduce poverty and generate employment at the grassroot due to numerous by products of cotton and its contribution to the GDP of the nation.
He expressed appreciation to the leadership of ALGON, especially Delta, Ebonyi and Lagos states, the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, all stakeholders especially the Minister of Industries, Trade and Investment for his tremendous support in ensuring the success of the event.
Mr Ono Akpe however, thanked the Federal Government for providing the opportunity for his organization as a private sector collaborator to have enlarged the national consciousness on the richly endowed economic potentials inherent in the local governments of our great country Nigeria, now begging for accelerated development for the good of our people.
There was also cultural display by members of Help Line Foundation Abuja.
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