The Ondo State Government has restated its commitment to boosting the state’s economy through intervention and re-energising old industries as well as creating new ones.
Mr Olatunji Ifabiyi, the Special Adviser to Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Commerce, Industry and Cooperative Services, stated this on Thursday in Akure.
Ifabiyi spoke while declaring open a training programme for track agents of the Nigeria Cares Project (N-Cares Project).
He said that the Akeredolu-led government was involved in the project because of its resolve to boost the state economy.
“The Nigeria action response and economic stimulus programme with the acronym N-CARE is a joint effort of the World Bank, Federal Government and the Ondo State Government.
‘’The programme is aimed towards ameliorating the effects of COVID-19 on the economy.
“This programme marks the beginning of rejuvenation of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME’S) sector amidst the ravaging Coronavirus pandemic which has crippled and destroyed many MSMEs,’’ Ifabiyi said.
The special adviser urged the trainees to be attentive to the programme, saying all hands must be on deck in the efforts to grow the state economy and country at large.
“You have all chosen to be part of our programme because of our mutual passion for growth.
‘’We need you as much as you need us in order to make the revitalisation of the MSMEs a reality,’’ he said.
Ifabiyi thanked President Buhari, Gov. Akeredolu, Commissioner for Finance, Mr Wale Akinterinwa and Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Emmanuel Igbasan, for contributions to the take-off of the programme.
Igbasan was represented by Mr Bunmi Alade, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget.
He said the inclusion of Bank of Industry in the programme followed the interaction between the state government and the bank.
The commissioner urged civil servants to act as drivers of the programme in their respective offices to make people of the state derive maximum benefits from it.
Mrs Kosemani Kolawole, Chairman of Ondo State Micro-credit Agency, said the training was designed to expose the participants to the rudiments of the programme.
No fewer than 120 participants drawn from the 18 local government areas of the state attended the training. (NAN)