Dutse, March 4, 2025
Jigawa state Executive Council has directed for a review of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), it signed with Bank of Industry, to promote entrepreneurship in the state.
The State Commissioner of Information, Youth, Sport and Culture, Mr Sagir Musa, made this known in and interview with newsmen after the state executive council meeting held on Tuesday in Dutse.
He said that the decision is in line with Jigawa State Government’s commitment to promote Small and Medium scale entrepreneurship, through access to soft loans.
He said, “as contained in the MoU, Jigawa state disbursed N2 billion naira as “matchingfund”, while the BoI disbursed an equal amount of N2 billion naira also.”
Similarly, the State Government has contributed another N2 billion naira, under a “managed fund” arrangement, with an aim to provide abundant funding opportunity for small and medium business owners.
The aim he said, is to provide business owners, with access to funds, to grow their businesses.
The Council he explained, has viewed with serious concern, the slow phase of disbursement made so far, to the several small and medium scale enterprises that have applied for the fund.
“This is against the spirit of the signed MoU, so the Council enjoined the management of BoI, to speed up the loan approval and disbursement processes.
Meanwhile, the Council according to Mr Musa, has also mandated state committee overseeing the arrangements with BoI, to invite officials of the Bank, for further discussion on the issues.
Furthermore, the Commissioner disclosed that the council has also approved various Constituency projects for the year 2025, under the state Ministry for Basic education.
The projects he said, were approved to the tone of N347,645,818.52 only, for the construction of Islamic Schools, Construction of SUBEB type Classrooms, Renovation of Classroom Blocks and Supply of Books.
It will also cover for the purchase of chalks and school Uniforms in 17 local councils of the state that includes, Auyo, Babura, Birnin-Kudu, Gagarawa, Garki and Gumel.
Other local governments to benefit includes Gwiwa, Gwaram, Jahun, Kazaure, Kiyawa, Kaugama, Kirikasamma, Miga, Roni and Yankwashi, respectively.
By Aisha Ahmed
Dutse
