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Fubara Empowers 3,066 MSMES With N4bn Soft Loan
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has formally launched the N4billion matching fund loan scheme that will stimulate business activities in the State while also creating wealth.
The launching, which took place at the Dr Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Port Harcourt last Friday, signaled the commencement of the disbursement of Rivers State Government/Bank of Industry (BOI) Limited N4billion marching fund loan scheme for nano, small and medium-scale businesses in the State.
Governor Fubara said the lack of access to credit had continued to aggravate financial exclusion and choked the prospects for individuals to realise their economic aspirations for a better life.
But with the scheme, which is a partnership between Rivers State Government and BOI, now launched, Governor Fubara emphasised that a surest path has been secured to achieve entrepreneurial success while serving as an enabler of economic prosperity in the State.
“Today, we are all here to witness the formal launch and distribution of cheques to 3,066 micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises and 100 companies in the State from all 23 local government areas, including businesses owned by non-indigenes valued at over N3.6billion only.
“We are satisfied with today’s outing and professionalism, believing even more strongly that the potential outcome will be greater to both BOI and the Government and good people of Rivers State.”
Governor Fubara explained that as a campaign blueprint, he promised, during his electioneering campaigns, to support entrepreneurial development and the growth of businesses through access to credit in the form of soft loans.
The Governor said, upon assumption of office, he noticed more closely how most businesses, especially those of small scale, struggled and either died or gasped in accessing credit that were only offered by banks at neck-breaking interest without success.
Governor Fubara pointed out that: “As a State, we cannot talk about economic growth without stimulating business activities to create wealth and jobs through policies and programmes that will engender greater public access to credit and financial inclusion.
“MSMEs are well-known as critical drivers of inclusive economic growth and development. By empowering our people to cultivate available economic opportunities, access to credit is a powerful tool for achieving financial security.
“We can only keep imaging the economic value that the over 3,000 MSMEs would add to the positive economic dynamics of Rivers State and the local government areas in terms of gross domestic product, increased tax returns, employment creation, income distribution and production of good and services.”
Governor Fubara made it clear that even if the loan appeared very liberal, it is not given as charity, and insisted that beneficiaries must pay back so that others can access it to fund their businesses.
The Governor, therefore, instructed the management of the Rivers State Microfinance Agency (RIMA) to monitor the progress of the beneficiaries in their businesses and ensure a 100 percent recovery of the loans to guarantee the sustainability of the programme.
Governor Fubara noted the gains of the symbiotic economic partnership between the State Government and BOI, and the transformed commitment to further strengthen and cultivate it for the benefit of the people of Rivers State.
In his address, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Industry (BOI) Limited, Dr Olasupo Olusi, represented by the Executive Director of Corporate Services and Commerical, Mr Usen Effiong, said they were particularly interested in ensuring that the collaboration is realised in steering socio-economic growth, creating jobs, checkmating social vices and growing the IGR of Rivers State.
“BOI remains committed and a strong pillar of development financing in Nigeria for over 60 years. Our remarkable record and total assets exceed N4trillion, which makes BOI the largest and most successful development finance institution in the nation.
“It will interest us to know that our total investment in Rivers State as at today stands at N55.65billion, which accounts for 55 percent of the total investment in the entire South-South. So, Rivers State alone is taking the chunk of our investment.
“We, as the Bank of Industry Limited, play a major role in supporting Nigerian enterprises by providing financial services, advisory services, and watch businesses grow from Nano to Micro to Small, Medium and getting to large enterprises.
“Our mandate is to create development impact which is in line with the economic blueprint of His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State, and this cuts across various sectors ranging from agriculture, oil and gas, power and aviation, hospitality. This, we believe will crystalize industrialization and economic sustainability in Rivers State.”
Delivering his welcome address, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Rivers State Microfinance Agency (RIMA), Pastor Jonathan Tobin, said it was exciting that they were given the opportunity to contribute to achieving the dream project of Governor Fubara christened, “Touching Lives, Creating Wealth.”
Pastor Tobin stated that the timing of the launching of the scheme is auspicious because it was coming when the operating capital of most businesses have been eroded.
He explained that there are grave inflation rate and fluctuation of the foreign exchange regime, which have posed unbearable challenges to most micro businesses.
Pastor Tobin said the interest rate for loan collected under the scheme is single digit, which is 7.5 percent per annum, and reckons as the lowest in the country.
“Today, Your Excellency, we have four categories of borrowers. Those who are borrowing from N1,000 to N1,000.000. Those who are borrowing from above N1,000.000 to N50,000,000 are treated by our partners, Bank of Industry.
“If you are borrowing from N100,000 to N450,000, all you need to provide is just your passport photograph, the passport photograph of your guarantor, your NIN, and local government identification.
“For those who are borrowing from N500,000 to N1,000,000, all they need to provide is two passport photographs, their NIN, their means of identification, BVN, a guarantor with a cheque leaf. These categories of borrowers are treated in RIMA,” he added.
Pastor Tobin said further: “Those who are borrowing from above N1,000,000 to N10,000,000 will be treated in Bank of Industry. All they need is just a proof of registration of their businesses, two guarantors, a valid identification card, and a simple business plan.
”For those who are borrowing N10,000,000 to N50,000,000, all they need is a Corporate Affairs Commission Registration, two years’ audited financial record, a Certificate of Occupancy, BVN, tax clearance of the company and or the directors.
”Your Excellency, as at today, we have brought on board 3,066 beneficiaries, and they all are requesting for N1.632billion. Interestingly, women borrowers account for 58 percent while the men borrowers account for 42 percent.”
He urged Rivers people interested in forging a good and sustainable business path to approach the agency for support yo enable them contribute to the economic revival and growth of the State.
Highlight of the event was the official launch of the loan scheme and presentation of cheques to some successful beneficiaries from across the 23 LGAs and some small business owners by the State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.