*Gov Umo Eno
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, says modalities have been set up to empower small and medium scale businesses, as well as entrepreneurs in the state, in line with his Arise Agenda for the state.
Governor Eno said a business school was being set up to train and develop budding entrepreneurs in the state, announcing that the Ministry of Trade and Investments has been mandated to take stock of entrepreneurs in the state, for possible assistance from the government.
Speaking in Eket on the backdrop of unending calls and request for appointments by indigenes, the governor said he can only encourage people to go into profitable business ventures and make meaningful gains, since the government cannot give appointments to every persons in the state.
“There is no way we can appoint everybody to work in Government. It is not possible. But there is a way we can help you go into trade and eke a living with what you are doing. Government is going to specifically budget money to help strengthen small businesses and I can tell you that on good authority.
“The only way you can benefit is to have something doing. I would not lie to you, if a man keeps sending you money everyday and you keep looking up to that man, the day he will stop giving you, you will get angry with him. But if the man helps you to stand on your own, you will have your own mind and appreciate him. This is how men are raised.
“I beg of you, for those who have nothing doing, we are going to open a business school and even before we open one, try and ask yourself, what will I really do for a living because I assure you, help will soon be available,” he explained.
Speaking on his frequent stopovers on roadsides to interact with traders, Governor Eno said he does that to encourage traders in their business ventures, as he believed on dignity of labour, saying that it was biblical that anyone who does not work does not deserve to eat.
“A man can only produce his kind. I am an entrepreneur and I will determine to support small businesses. That is why when you see me stand by roadsides and encourage those traders, we are not doing show. I can never forget that I use to be like those people. I use to carry soft drink on my head and hawk for my mother at the Airport back then in Ikeja. I was selling drink even as a senior prefect in my school,” the governor said.
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