17th July, 2018
The Anambra State Small Business Agency (ASBA) said it had created more than 20, 000 direct jobs using two billion naira micro credit facility obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) three years ago.
Mr Clement Chukwuka, Managing Director of the agency, made the disclosure in Awka on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He said more than 50, 000 indirect jobs were also created by the agency during the period under review.
‘‘The two billion naira credit facility we obtained for micro enterprises development from CBN was extended to more than 450 persons.
‘‘These people in turn used the money to create more than 20, 000 direct jobs and 50, 000 indirect jobs since 2015,’’ he said.
Chukwuka stated that the micro credit facility had impacted positively on the socio-economic sector of the state.
He said that big industries in Nnewi and Onitsha in Anambra equally felt the injection of the fund in the area.
The managing director said the success story of the agency in managing the micro credit was due to her firm stand that the loan was not for political patronage.
He said that the agency usually spelt out the conditions to be fulfilled by prospective beneficiaries and ensure strict adherence to the terms and conditions of the facility.
‘‘If Nigeria’s economy must get better, government schemes designed to strengthen the economy must be drawn in a way that the beneficiaries must strictly abide by the rules spelt out for the scheme,’’ he said.
Chukwuka disclosed that the agency had paid back a substantial part of the two billion naira credit facility from the apex bank.
‘‘If CBN come for another tranche of the credit, ASBA is ready because we have recovered more than 98 percent of the facility,’’ he said.
He said the agency recently completed 1,000-shop capacity market for shoes and allied products dealers at Nkwele Azunaka near Onitsha.
He said it also intended to construct some shops for garment and leather dealers within one year.