By Dauda R PamMaiduguri
Borno state governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, Friday launched the State E-commerce platform designed and adopted by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation on the Android operating systems during the flag off of SMEDAN’s conditional grant scheme in Maiduguri.
He said his administration was committed to developing business enterprises in the state, especially through engaging several youths in various employment platforms to make them self reliant by disbursement of more than N3bn.
He explained that, the administration has invested in many new vocational training centres and has revived old ones to rekindle SMSEs in the state by establishing sustainable businesses of their own.
And hinted that a sustainability development agency will be created in the near future with the aim of developing a vanguard for rural industrialization and poverty reduction to enhance livelihood of the people.
Prof. Zulum urged the SMSEs artisans and technicians to register with Borno State E-commerce in order to explore the various economic opportunities and have the knowledge on advertisment and other technologies in order to boost their trade.
Recalled his recent trip to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Nigerian Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA) in Abuja to attract investment opportunities to the state as the governor announced the application for the resuscitation of the Banki Free Trade Zone, BFTZ..
In a welcome address, the Commissioner Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Babagana Malumbe, said that the platform was innovated in line with Governor Zulum’s 10 Pact Agenda and 25 Years Development Plan towards formalizing the small scale enterprises and reducing unemployment and federal government’s digitalization process.
He said it is also aimed at reducing unemployment, promoting regional trade and increasing export by capitalizing on the three borders shared by Borno State, in a bid to increase internally generated revenue (IGR) to the state.
The Commissioner also expanciated on the benefits of the platform, stressing that, it will enable citizens to join the global village to market their products, locate artisans and choose stocks based on one’s choice.
Arguing that the essence of the launching was for the registration of location, contacts and commodities for entrepreneurs.
