By Moses Uwagbale
Mr Adeniyi Adebayo, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, has enjoined indigenes of Ekiti State to participate in the Federal Government economic recovery and stimulus programme for their own benefits.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Ifedayo Sayo, the minister listed the programmes to include N15 billion naira Guaranteed Offtake Scheme, N50 billion naira MSMEs Survival Fund and N10 billion naira MSMEs Survival Fund for Transport workers.
Adebayo noted that the programmes were put in place for the good of Nigerians and devoid of partisan or religious sentiments as all Nigerians are expected to participate for the economic wellbeing of the country.
He, however, solicited the support of the people for both the state and federal government, saying that the state would continue to enjoy federal presence like other states of the federation.
According to him, the Bank of Industry (BoI) will soon begin the construction of its branch in the state.
He said the land for the building of the branch has been acquired and Certificate of Occupancy issued by the state government.
Similarly, Adebayo said the National Automobile Design Development Council (NADDC) has acquired land in Ado-Ekiti for the building of a mechatronics training centre.
The land for the building of the training centre has also been acquired and Certificate of Occupancy issued.
The Minister said the two projects would start in the first quarter of the year.
He also disclosed that the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) building had been completed in the state and ready for commissioning.
“Besides, the Industrial Training Fund is in the process of acquiring land for its own building in the state,” he said.
He lauded residents who had participated in the training programme organised by SMEDAN and urged them to put to use the knowledge acquired from the training.