By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello has disclosed that the FCT administration is set to create 239,000 jobs for citizens in with the Federal Government’s vision to provide 1 million jobs by 2023.
Bello said this yesterday when a group of award winning local entrepreneurs from the FCT led by the Managing Director of the Abuja Enterprise Agency, AEA, Dr Arabi Mohammed Tukur visited his office.
The minister reiterated the determination of the FCT Administration, through the AEA, to provide 230,000 jobs in the FCT in line with the Federal Government’s vision of providing 1 million jobs nationwide by 2023.
This was contained in a press release signed by
Anthony Ogunleyeh Chief Press Secretary to the FCT minister.
The minister who reiterated FCTA’s commitment to local entrepreneurship said that Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, SMEs, represent an important component in the nation’s stride towards economic growth and development.
He commended MS Sheelda Enterprise Nigeria Limited for winning the first position with a cash reward of N5000,000 and a car donated by Bank of Industry under the manufacturing category at the just concluded 3rd National MSME Awards organized by the Office of the Vice President.
He reiterated the determination of the FCT Administration, through the AEA, to provide 230,000 jobs in the FCT in line with the Federal Government’s vision of providing 1 million jobs nationwide by 2023 under the manufacturing category at the recently concluded 3rd National MSME Awards organized by the Office of the Vice President.
Managing Director of AEA, Dr Tukur who led the visit disclosed that SMEs were the engine room of economic growth of any nation as well as jobs creation, adding that the success of the entrepreneurs was as a result of the support of the FCT Administration for the growth of small and medium scale businesses in the FCT.
According to Dr Arabi Tukur, 925 entrepreneurs submitted their works out of which Miss Onojo Malissa came first, winning a cash prize of N500,000 followed by Mr Obiechina John and Mrs. Egorp Susan who came second and third positions with cash prizes of N300,000 and N200,000 respectively.
Further the winner and two runners up of the “Mask Up Abuja” competition also organized by the AEA were presented to the minister.
The contest was for fashion designers to create face masks for the fight against COVID-19 in the FCT.
The awardees expressed appreciation to the FCT Administration for providing the platform for them to showcase their creativity and market their businesses.
At the presentation ceremony were the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa and the Chief of Staff to the Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Borno.
