by crossriverwatch admin
The Director General, Cross River Micro Finance and Enterprise Development Agency, MEDA Mr. Ignatius Atsu has disclosed that employment opportunities in the country are dwindling and the only option available now is entrepreneurship.
He made the disclosure in a one day Public Private Dialogue, PPD/Market Traders Meeting held in Calabar recently. The dialogue was put together by a DFID funded project, Growth and Empowerment in States, GEMS3 and the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, Cross River State.
Mr. Atsu stated that “This present administration having identified unemployment as a menace to be curbed, established the Investment Promotion Bureau, IPB in 2007 with the aim of attracting both direct and indirect investments to the state and the Micro Finance and Enterprise Development Agency, MEDA to support the growth of Small, Micro and Medium Enterprise in the state”.
He expressed gratitude to all whose hands are on deck to phase out the massive unemployment in the state. His words: “We are grateful to relevant stakeholders that have come together to teach us how to grow a business, register the business, manage, maintain and sustain the business”. He pledged continual support to the GEMS3 project and others alike.
On her part, the Manager GEMS3 Cross River State, Mrs. Geraldine Oku disclosed that “GEMS3 has been in existence in the country for the past four years but in Cross River practical intervention started
roughly two and a half year ago”.
According to her, GEMS3 has come to support in ensuring that more skilled businesses are developed, managed and sustained.
She assured that GEMS3 has outlined road maps and structures to be put in place to ease the burden of doing business in the state. She thanked everyone that has been supporting the project for their firm commitment and contribution to the growth of the initiative in the State and country at large.
Earlier, the Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, Mallam Bello Mahmud in a goodwill message commended the GEMS3 team for their continued assistance in the area of enlightenment and also the technical support they have been providing.
In a related development, the Calabar Municipal Council in a bid to improve and clean up the LG tax system of all irregularities is collaborating with the Growth and Empowerment in States, GEMS3 and Smart Gov. to flag off the collection of taxes with the the Point of Sale, POS technology.
The Calabar Municipality Council boss, Ntufam Donatus Etim while speaking described the new taxation system as a sure way of curbing any leakages already existing in the system. He said, “The innovation will help check the leakages in revenue collection and boost generation capacity”.
The Chairman said the POS system will minimize the over dependency on statutory revenue allocation. Ntufam Donatus commended all stakeholders and partners for their unrelenting zeal to actualize the dream of a city where tax will be collected properly, well monitored, and well utilized.
In his remark, the National Coordinator/Team Leader GEMS3, Mr. Obina Egele commended the council for the effective synergy aimed at creating an enabling environment for harmonize taxation for socio economic growth. He however advised that a conducive tax climate needs to be created to promote optimal compliance.
Also speaking, Mr. Doxa Israel of Smart Gov. reiterated the readiness of his organization to support with technical know-how to ensure sustainable implementation of the scheme.
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