Misbahu Bashir
30 October 2007
The minister of state, commerce and industry, Ahmed Garba Bichi, has commended the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in supporting a micro-finance project in Nigeria.
The minister made the remarks when IFAD vice president Dr. Kanayo Nwenze, and the UNIDO representative in Nigeria, Mr. Masayo-shi Masu-shita, paid him a visit in Abuja.
He said their efforts in support of the implementation of a project, Rural Micro-finance Enterprises Development Programme (RUMEDP), through the small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), a parastatal of the ministry, was encouraging.
Bichi assured the IFAD vice president of government's commitment towards implementing the programme for it to benefit the common man in Nigeria.
All stakeholders, according to the minister, would be consulted to discuss the project document fully so as to come up with the country's position, before a formal negotiation with IFAD on the project portfolio and implementation strategy take place.
Earlier, the IFAD vice president, Dr. Nwanze had told the minister that his call was to formally visit key government personalities involved in developmental projects funded by IFADF; visit on going projects supported by the fund, and to also present the new project document to relevant authorities for review and amendments before final negotiation.
Dr. Nwanze told the minister that IFAD places premium importance on rural development and wealth creation among the rural people and as such, the latest programme which is slightly away from agriculture was aimed at poverty alleviation and raising the standard of living among poor people through rural projects and small enterprises financing which SMEDAN is championing.
Also speaking at the occasion, the UNIDO representative in Nigeria, Mr. Matsushita, recalled the various meetings held between officials of the ministry, SMEDAN, IFAD and UNIDO that resulted in the establishment of the new project, about to be negotiated and implemented. He praised IFAD for choosing to fund small and medium enterprises in Nigeria through its micro-financing policy.
SMEDAN director-general, Chief (Mrs) Modupe Adelaja, also commended IFAD for the interest in SMEDAN and its financing of projects that are outside agriculture.
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