It is no longer news that the Enugu SME centre is up and running under the youthful headship of Hon. Arinze Chilo-Offiah. Perhaps, what is truly amazing has to do with the robust strategies the energetic young man has put in place to spread the gospel of self reliance and empowerment among the teeming populace of Enugu State. It is rare to find a government initiative receiving so much acclaim and aplomb from the citizens whom such policies were designed for. Perhaps, the reason(s) for this may not be far flung.
For one, government has been in the habit for so long churning out seemingly empty rhetoric meant to address the yearnings of the people. For another, there is always observable weak political will to give the policies howbeit idealistic the necessary and desired push to ensure the maximum impact on the people. Viewed from this prism therefore, great efforts must be made to commend His Excellency, Rt honorable Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for implementing the Youth O’clock agenda of his administration and for firmly enplanting round pegs in an equally rounded holes.
Honorable Arinze Chilo-Offiah unarguably has become one of such round pegs in a round hole who have given Ugwuanyi’s administration a robust lift via his stellar performances since taking over the supervision of the Enugu SME centre. Like a man in tune with his mandate and responsibilities, Chilo-Offiah is not about a man designing unimplementable theories but one numbing the mind with practical approaches to his many policies. From developing theories of up skills in virtually every facets of economic endeavors to how they can be achieved with practical trainings and to the support of the trainees to ensure that they stand on their feet after their training via interesting government grants called Human Capital Development Loan Scheme (HCDLS), Enugu State have not had it so good. Not quite a few have attested to the excellent trajectories Chilo-Offiah have gone through since he was offered to head the SME Centre by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. He has brought more than mere academic experiences to bear on the performance of the center.
To assure Ndi Enugu that his Excellency, the governor meant business in his avowed commitment to empower the entire citizenry through the establishment of small scale businesses, skills development and soft loans to support budding businesses, Chilo-Offiah embarked on wide Sensitization tour of schools and other tertiary institutions across the state to make the message clearer and bring it closer to the target audience.
The tour tagged “Enugu SME University Sensitization Tour” are often undertaken by designated representatives of the Agency to brief the wide spectrum of students on accruable benefits inherent therefrom from the SME Centre. At the last count, the Agency under Chilo-Offiah have visited not fewer than 10 institutions scattered across the state. In continuation of the state wide tour Sensitization efforts of the Agency, it berthed at the University of Nigeria Nsukka and Coal City University (CCU), Enugu state few days ago. As usual, it was a rewarding experience for the lucky students who turned out in their numbers and were amazed at how many opportunities made available to them via the Agency.
It is important to reiterate that students who own small business in any Higher institution within the state can now apply for Human Capital Development Loan(HCDL), World-class Skill Acquisition programs, Free Capacity Development Programs, Access to Credit as well as job Creation Schemes, Business Grants amongst others at the Enugu SME Center. For more information on Enugu SME Center activities kindly call 08089344768; 08084998224; 09042439495; 09013484336; 07018098225 or you can visit their office at No. 2a Market Garden Aveneue Opposite SME Roundabout along Ebeano Tunnel GRA Enugu or visit www.enugusme.en.gov.ng or @enugusmeagency on Instagram and Twitter and Enugu State SME Agency on Facebook for all your inquiries.
Enugu State is truly in the hands of God Almighty.
Ride on Hon. Arinze Chilo-Offiah.
God bless Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for providing the enabling platform for us to grow.
Bibian Anekwe News…added..Schooling doesn’t assure employment but skill does, let us join Gov. Ugwuanyi’s initiative at Enugu SME Center
Written by
Austin okechukwu Chijioke
Public Affairs Commentator.
Media Team Member: Enugu di n’akachukwu movement
