RIMA Plans Microfinance Training In Varsities

The Managing Director/Chief Executive of Rivers State Microfinance Agency (RIMA), Mr Innocent Iyalla Harry has revealed the intention of the agency to introduce microfinance training into the curricula of Nigerian universities.

The RIMA Chief Executive, who stated this in an interview with The Tide in his office in Port Harcourt said that the agency plans to achieve the target before the expiration of his tenure in the agency.

He noted that the move falls within the medium business plan of RIMA which aims at making impressive impact that will pay off in the future, in the area of educating entrepreneurs and microfinance banks to adopt best practices.

“We are eager to train micro-finance banks to adopt best practices and also to make a mark in the finance industry”, he said.

He noted that RIMA as a change agent to the rural area entrepreneurship empowerment, has succeeded in empowering 2,600 entrepreneurs across the 21 rural areas of the state, adding that so far the agency  has created 2,600 jobs and equally recovered 95% of the loans within the stipulated time.

The RIMA boss, however, stated that the major challenge of the agency is funding, as it moves to execute its numerous targets.

“We try to hold down on our cost and make sure we step up our revenue in order to succeed in breaking even”, he added, noting that his happiness is that the loans get to the 60% active poor citizens that are targeted unlike the former practice.