Nasarawa Commissions Business Information Centre

Tuesday, July 22, 2003

The Nasarawa State Government has commissioned its Business Information Centre for the provision of information towards the establishment of small-scale enterprises. The Business Information Centre (BIC) which is the first of its type in sub-Saharan Africa is a joint partnership venture of the Nasarawa State Government with the Washington based United States – Small Business Administration (US-SBA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The United States – Nigeria Development Institute (US-ndi) served as facilitator for the project. 

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Governor Abdullahi Adamu said that the centre was a continuation of government’s efforts at turning around the fortunes of the people of the state. In his words, “The Business Information Centre Lafia, which is being commissioned today, is part of Government’s relentless efforts in developing small private sector enterprises in the state as a means of ensuring that our people play a prominent role in the economic development of Nigeria.

Continuing, Governor Adamu said the BIC is intended to enhance entrepreneurial skills both in Nasarawa State and the country at large via intensive training and information programmes. To achieve this goal, the Centre will utilise Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) to introduce and deliver a model of efficient and high quality service in the domestic and global market place. More importantly, the driving force behind the establishment of the BIC is to aid prospective small business owners on how to package business marketing and accounting plans, fitting enough to be utilised for the acquisition of loan facilities from financial institutions.  Thus, the initiative is intended to provide the necessary impetus for securing funds where it would otherwise be difficult.

Governor Adamu then called on the various stakeholders, particularly the small-scale business class, members of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other end users will avail themselves of the benefits inherent in the services to be rendered by the center.

Speaking earlier, the Special Adviser to the Nigerian President on Political Affairs and Chairman of US-ndi Professor Jerry Gana said the Nasarawa BIC is a place where the entrepreneur class will access quality and reliable information on business practices. He urged the people of Nasarawa state to take advantage of this unique center to showcase their products and take advantage of the AGOA legislation in the USA to export their products.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Manuel A. Rosales, Assistant Administrator, Office of International Trade, US-SBA, said the role of government is to create the enabling environment for businesses to thrive rather than be directly involved in businesses. This way, there will be a level playing ground for everybody to go into business. He said the center would provide the best facilities for individuals to create their own small businesses, noting that small businesses were the engine of every prosperous economy. He said the BIC would use the US model and adapt it to the local Nasarawa environment to teach the people how to establish their own businesses, thus creating employment for the population.

Labaran Maku, the State Deputy Governor; Gladys Modupe Sasore, Presidential Adviser on AGOA; Jane Butler, Deputy Assistant Deputy Administrator for Entrepreneurial Development, US-SBA; Tanya Smith, Programme Manager for Africa, US-SBA and Mike Williams, President US-ndi were among the cream of dignitaries at the commissioning ceremony.

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