Business
RSG Employs Best Performing Corps Member
The Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has offered automatic employment in the state civil service to the best corper of the year in the Batch C 2009 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Amaechi who announced the offer at the passing out of the NYSC members in Port Harcourt yesterday explained that the offer was the rewarding of the good performance of the recipient, Mr Borishade Adetola during the service year.
Speaking at the occasion, Amaechi told Nigerian youths not to be deterred by the present economic situation in the country as the future provides endless opportunity for them to excel.
The governor, who recalled his year as a. corps member, said the “opportunities available in Nigeria are limitless, but to achieve the breakthrough every effort must be backed by determination to succeed”.
The State Chief Executive thanked the corps members for their services to the state, in spite of obvious deprivations, and apologised over the kidnap of four of their colleagues at Omuma Local Government Area of the state.
He explained that the perpetrators of the crime came from neighbouring Abia State and entered the area, through a border community in the state to commit the act, assuring that steps had been taken to avert a repeat of the incident.
He, however, announced the release of all outstanding monetary allowances owed the corps members which he said should be paid immediately to the outgoing corps members including transportation.
The State Chairman of NYSC Governing Board and Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Magnus Abe, lauded the corps members for successfully completing their one year service to the country and urged them to remain good ambassadors of the scheme by upholding its lofty ideals.
He urged them to explore the many possibilities made available by some government agencies such as the National Directorate of Employment and Small and Medium Scale Development Agencies to be self employed rather than wait for non-existent jobs.
On her part, the Rivers State Co-ordinator of NYSC, Mrs Esther Wogbo, congratulated the outgoing corps members for successfully passing through the four cardinal points of the scheme which are, orientation, primary assignments, community development service and winding up processes leading up to passing out.
She said while some of the corps members would be rewarded for their outstanding performances, 17 of them had been sanctioned for various offences, and would not pass out, and announced that the state lost one member of the 2009 Batch C “corps member, Amanze George Chigozie, who was serving with the Ministry of Justice, up till his death.
Highpoints of the passing out was march past by the corps members, observance of a minute of silence for the deceased corps member and presentation of certificates to the corps members.
The facility will be disbursed through participating Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), which will in turn extend the loans to their customers, particularly SMEs, as they directly interface with businesses at the grassroots level.
The Executive Director of COMCIN, Mr. Micheal Ogbaa who represented the Chairman, Dr. Iredele Oyedele (FCA, FCCA), said the initiative is designed to strengthen micro-lending institutions and expand access to finance for grassroots entrepreneurs, particularly women and youths in the informal sector.
Ogbaa explained that COMCIN does not lend directly to individuals but works through its network of microfinance and cooperative institutions, which in turn provide loans to end users.
“We came together to advocate for the microfinance ecosystem. Commercial banks often exclude people at the grassroots, but our members are positioned to reach them. This facility will empower them to do more,” he said.
He noted that the loan scheme offers low interest rates and flexible repayment plans, making it more accessible to small business owners.
According to him, about 90 percent of beneficiaries are expected to be women, who play a key role in sustaining families and driving economic activities at the local level.
“Our focus is on traders, service providers, and players in the informal sector. These are the real movers of the economy. By supporting them, we are strengthening families and contributing to national development,” he added.
Ogbaa disclosed that eligible SMEs with proven integrity and business track records could access up to N5 million each through participating micro-lending institutions. The rollout has commenced in Lagos and will extend to Abuja, Enugu, and other regions, including the South-West, South-East, and North-East.
He said 12 micro-lending institutions have already benefited from the scheme, while 85 applications are currently being processed under the pilot phase.
“Our target is to reach at least 100,000 SMEs nationwide. We are building a platform that connects funding partners with credible micro-lending institutions, creating a reliable channel for financial inclusion,” Ogbaa said.
He added that COMCIN is also working to attract larger funding pools from development finance institutions and private investors, noting that successful implementation of the pilot phase would boost confidence and unlock more capital for SMEs.
“We have seen encouraging testimonies from early beneficiaries. As we demonstrate transparency and efficiency, more institutions will be willing to channel funds through us,” he said.
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