Great Ogban, the Director-General of the Cross River State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (MEDA), has pledged to bolster the state’s business community under the leadership of Governor Bassey Otu.
Ogban committed during his visit to the state secretariat of the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) in Calabar.
His visit was part of an assessment tour to personally engage with business owners to understand their challenges and explore how the government can provide solutions through his agency.
In his welcome address, James Alicha, the chairman of NASME, commended Governor Otu for appointing Ogban, noting his extensive knowledge of the business community in the state.
He described the appointment as fitting for the agency and emphasized NASME’s commitment to growing the economy of Cross River State by advocating for the promotion of SME activities for revenue generation.
Alicha highlighted some of the challenges entrepreneurs face, including lack of access to funds and the high cost of acquiring funds.
Ekaete Vincent, the NASME women leader, and Declan Ogar, the youth leader, also appealed for support through loans and grants, particularly for women and youth entrepreneurs.
In response, Ogban applauded NASME for its efforts in sustaining the business environment in the state and assured them of partnership with his agency to realize Governor Otu’s vision of strengthening the business sector.
He outlined plans to develop a strategic framework that accommodates the digital and creative sectors and provides loans and grants to support business owners in expanding their enterprises.