Ex-ECCIMA Boss Urges Support For SMEs

A former President of the?Enugu?Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Pastor?Olisaemeka?Jideonwo,   has called on financial institutions to support small and medium enterprises for improved productivity.

Jideonwo?made the call while delivering a lecture at the 2013 National Productivity Day in?Enugu?last Thursday.

He lamented that banks in the country paid little or no attention to the SMEs?in their approval of loans.

He noted that the attitude had impeded the productivity level of goods and services in the country.

“Banks across the country are no longer adding value to the growth of the real sector, particularly?the SMEs?adjudged as the power house of any formidable economy.

“Our banks prefer to trade with the funds at their disposal than support ailing industries. We cannot develop with the current attitude of the financial institutions,’’ he said.

He appealed to the Federal Government to support the private sector for improvement in productivity and competitiveness.

Another guest lecturer,?Prof.?Obiora?Ike, the Director of the Catholic Institute for Development, Justice and Peace (CIDJAP), lamented that laziness, bribery, absenteeism, mediocrity and corruption had contributed to low productivity in the country.

He called for collaborative effort of all stakeholders to fight the menace which had?bedeviled?the country.

In his message,?Gov. Sullivan Chime said his administration was committed to improving productivity and competitiveness by ensuring efficiency and vibrancy of the civil service in the state.

He noted that the state through its programmes would continue to train and give incentives to civil servants for improved productivity.

The governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr?Amechi?Okolo, said the four-point agenda of his administration had been designed to infuse a productivity culture among civil servants in the state.

“It is widely accepted that for any nation to achieve rapid and sustainable?socio-economic development, its leaders and people must develop a consciousness to always work toward a continued growth in productivity levels.

“As a government, we believe that growth in productivity is a means to raising living standard, raising income. Our administration must ensure efficient civil service for enhanced service delivery,’’ Chime said.

Also speaking, the?Enugu?State Coordinator of the National Productivity Centre, Mr Enoch?Azunna, said the?center, in collaboration with the state government, honoured 44 civil servants as well as two?agro-allied?companies for distinguishing themselves in their endeavours.

Some of the awardees who spoke with newsmen commended the centre and the state government for the gesture.

They promised more commitment to work for more effective results.