Okowa urges CBN to establish entrepreneurial development centre in Delta

Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has appealed to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to set up Entrepreneurial Development Centre in the state.

Okowa made the call during the CBN 2015 Best Managed Branch Dinner Award in Asaba, the state capital.

The governor, who urged the apex bank to be involved in entrepreneurial development, noted that the state government had partnered the CBN in different empowerment programmes.

He noted that with the effect of fall in price of oil on the nation’s economy, it was important for the country to diversify its sources of revenue.

“We are happy that the CBN is encouraging its branches. I congratulate the recipients of the awards, especially, the Asaba branch that has done so well within its short time of establishment.

“We are particularly partnering with the CBN on the single digit interests rate on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME); we will continue to stay in that partnership.

“Delta State is interested in equipping our youths with different skills, we know you (the CBN) can be of assistance to us in establishing an Entrepreneurial Development Centre; we request and demand that the centre be established in Delta State,” he said.

The governor explained that his SMART agenda was predicated on empowering Deltans to be wealth creators, adding that his administration had reawakened the interests of youths in agriculture and skill acquisition with a bid to create alternative means of generating revenue.

The CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, who was represented by Suleiman Barau, deputy governor, operations, said the annual award ceremony was ” to boost healthy competition among the branches to encourage healthy services to customers.”

On her part, Asaba branch comptroller, Elizabeth Agu, commended the Delta State governor on the transparent ways he had been managing the affairs of the state.

At the well-attended award ceremony, Delta branch took first position, Jos branch second place, while Kano branch took the third position, respectively.