Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, has identified small-scale industries, otherwise known as Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), as key to national development.
Ikpeazu said this at an interactive session with the Traditional Rulers Council in Bende Local Government Area of the state.
He said small-scale industries had contributed more to the nation’s socio-economic development than any other sector of the economy.
Small-scale industries had the capacity to solve the problem of unemployment in the nation, if adequately harnessed, he asserted.
According to him, promoting the establishment of small-scale industries willgreatly boost national productivity.
The governor said his administration remained resolute in boosting the growth of small-scale industries in Abia and the nation at large.
He said under his watch, the state would continue to initiate more schemes and privileges that would increase participation of the people of Abia in small-scaleenterprises.
He described the people of Bende as key players in the small-scale manufacturing sector of the Abia economy.
Ikpeazu added that it was pertinent for the people of the area to support initiatives that would help to promote small-scaleindustries.
Responding, the chairman of the council, Eze Patrick Ude, said that the people of Bende would not relent in contributing to the socio-economic transformation of Abia.
While appealing to the state government to implement the payment of the five per cent monthly stipend for traditional rulers in the state, the monarch promised that they would educate their subjects to vote wisely in the general elections.
