By CHRISTIANA LOT, Jos –
The Plateau State Government has been urged to take immediate action to provide investment incentives, establish industrial clusters, and develop standardized markets and artisan hubs to promote job creation, maintain an organized environment, and drive overall development.
Akin Omoware, Head of Component for Business Enabling Environment (BEE) / Investments and Sustainable Infrastructure at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) – Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Development for Decent Employment in Nigeria (SEDIN), made this call during an event titled “Engagement with Business Management Organizations, Media, and Civil Society Organizations.”
The event aimed to address the business environment and offer support for private sector advocacy. Omoware stressed the significance of economic development and the crucial role of the private sector in creating employment opportunities.
He stated, “Economic issues are crucial, and our focus at GIZ involves aiding Nigeria, specifically Plateau State, in enhancing the economy and supporting the private sector to generate jobs. We are aware of the high unemployment rate in Nigeria and are working towards bridging that gap to spur production and job creation.”
Omoware highlighted the essential role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in job creation, noting that the government’s capacity to create jobs is limited. “In this state, if you tally up all the jobs provided by the government entities, it may not even reach 100,000, whereas the working population is close to 700,000 according to the latest NBS report. This underscores the importance of the private sector in job creation, both formal and informal,” Omoware added.
He also emphasized the need for a conducive environment for the growth of the private sector, particularly in the face of recent macroeconomic challenges leading to business closures and relocations. Highlighting Plateau’s economic potential in various sectors, he promoted the idea of value addition to attract investments and create employment opportunities.
During the discussion on industrial clustering, Omoware explained the advantages of reducing production costs and enhancing resource sharing among small businesses. He stated, “Clustering can lower production costs and simplify operations for small businesses by sharing resources like machinery and power. This approach can minimize business expenses and organize operations in a manner that can be effectively managed by the government.”
The event also featured insights from the Plateau State Micro-Finance Development Agency (PLASMIDA) and the Plateau State One-Stop Investment Centre. Bonkam Wuyep, Director General of PLASMIDA, represented by Sapphira Chindaba, Manager of Plateau Job Centre, highlighted the agency’s efforts in facilitating access to credit facilities and assisting artisans in accessing federal government survival funds.
Roseline Bentu, Centre Manager of Plateau State One-Stop Investment Centre, echoed the state government’s commitment to supporting private businesses to complement its job creation initiatives.
Various stakeholders, including small business owners, discussed the importance of advocacy in creating a conducive business environment and supporting private sector growth. They emphasized the need for enhanced collaborations to drive economic growth and development in Plateau State.
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