His Excellency Pst. Umo Bassey Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State has brought the Bank of Industry to Akwa Ibom State for the very first time having operated very strong branches in about 24 States of the Federation with Headquarters and Corporate offices in Lagos and Abuja respectively. With the latest developments, I have no doubt that the golden era Administration of Pst. Umo Eno shall be the ‘Government of empowerment for empowerment and by empowerment’. The golden era is here.
The Bank of Industry is Nigeria’s oldest, largest and most successful Development Finance Institution (DFI). Incorporated in 1959 as investment Company of Nigeria. It is owned by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated Nigeria, the Central Bank of Nigeria and Private Shareholders.
The Bank of Industry was established principally to transform Nigeria’s Industrial and Private Sector by providing financial and business support services to enterprise of various sizes. Also, the Bank of Industry is tasked with providing financial assistance for small to medium-Scale businesses in Nigeria through the use of loan.
The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pst. Umo Eno while addressing a cross section of government officials and Stakeholders at the Latter House Chapel, Governors’s Lodge, Uyo, Months ago, reiterated his commitment to supporting and encouraging entrepreneurship as one of the catalyst for economic growth.
According to His Excellency, Pst. Umo Bassey Eno “Finally we will have the Bank of Industry here. We have concluded on that. There are few things they wanted and we have sorted that out. I have given them a space in the 21 Storey Smart Building. Government will pay for that building to bring them to the State”.
He further said “You need to give me some sacrifices to attract businesses to the State, so I ask the entrepreneurs and industrialist to cooperate because what we can do for the people is to create that environment.”
On a second thought, one is bound to ask why an important Bank such as the Bank of Industry established since 1959 with strong branch network in 24 out of 36 States of the Nigerian Federation did not find its bearing to Akwa Ibom State before now? May be I can also announce to the entrepreneurs in Akwa Ibom State that the golden era Administration of Pst. Umo Bassey Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State is also their golden jubilee as they shall be visited with financial empowerments, unheard of in the history of Akwa Ibom State business arena to foster the growth of business enterprises.
It was Manoj Arora that said “Do not focus on money, instead, focus on problem that needs to be solved for the world. Money will follow you as a bi-product.” I encourage all the entrepreneurs in Akwa Ibom State to sharpen their skills as money can only be release to those with viable business options now that the Bank of Industry is here to stay.
His Excellency Pst. Umo Bassey Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State has penchant for providing financial support and corresponding empowerment to encourage entrepreneurship. He has been doing this even on his own private capacity through the platform of Ibom Ignite Conference, a brain child of the Governor, as he usually gathered the youths in their number, provide mentorship and doles out financial empowerment for them to either start or support an existing business yearly starting from September 2017.
In this Administration, if you are left without a verifiable business of your own, you have yourself to blame. Even as a farmer for instance, the record is there for those that had their businesses duly registered and waiting for financial assistance to support the business. The Governor is in possession of the available data for registered farmers. Hear him.
“More than Three Hundred and Forty Thousand farmers have registered on the active data base as at the last count, while more farmers are encouraged to register for ease of business with Government in the State.” The Governor further opined that each of the registered farmers will be interfaced with directly and not by proxy, meaning money will be credited to their Account directly. Better days are here.
Needless saying that Akwa Ibom State is blessed to have a Governor such as Pst. Umo Bassey Eno who is a successful entrepreneur himself with the understanding of business rudiments and what financial start-ups and capital means to a business owner. Hurry up and make the most of the emerging opportunities for your financial freedom.
The Bank of Industry is finally here in Akwa Ibom State to compliment the Arise Agenda for a successful take-off of the industrial and entrepreneurial era in Akwa Ibom State. Endeavour not to be left out in the scheme of things.
Arise, that same God.
Pst. Solomon Essiet (ACIA)
Special Assistant on New Media to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State