The Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Mr Samuel Ortom, has said that the federal government has released N50billion to be disbursed as interest-free loans to Small and Medium Scale Entrepreneurs as part of moves to check unemployment in the country.
Ortom, who made this known during a solidarity visit to the newly elected Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Mr. David Iorhemba, said every Nigerian who had genuine business acumen and engaged in any self-sustaining business that would help boost the nation’s economy would be availed the facility.
According to him, the N1m-N10million would be given to Nigerians through the Bank of Industries (BOI) for any entrepreneur that presents convincing evidence of a sustainable business interest.
The minister however expressed regret that entrepreneurs and potential businessmen in the Northern part of the country had not come forward to access the facility, and urged members of the Benue State Assembly members to enlighten their constituents on the need to exploit the opportunity to better their lot.
“This is part of the move by the federal government to generate employment in the country because an investigation has revealed that the current security challenges the country is facing would be effectively checked if the teeming jobless Nigerians are gainfully employed, hence this laudable programme,” he said.
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