The Akwa Ibom  State Government has pledged to encourage entrepreneurial culture in the state, as part of efforts to check unemployment among its youths.
The Commissioner for Finance,Mr. Akan Okon made the pledge when representatives of Bank of Industry (BOI) visited him in Uyo on Monday.
The commissioner said that the pledge stemmed from the government’s belief that entrepreneurship remained an essential ingredient for rapid and sustained economic growth.
‘’Akwa Ibom is blessed with abundant human and natural resources and if properly harnessed, would turn the state into economic giant.
‘’With the infrastructure already in place and a business-friendly environment, unemployed youths would be encouraged to take advantage of the multiple income streams that abounds for entrepreneurial ventures and self reliance.
‘’The state government has initiated policies and programmes geared toward job creation, one of which is industrialisation,’’ he said.
Okon said government would also partner relevant agencies to provide soft loans to drive the micro, small and medium scale enterprises.
He also urged BOI to assist by becoming a veritable partner and value added agent in the state’s entrepreneurial initiative.
Earlier, Mr Sunkanmi Oriyomi, one of the zonal representatives of BOI, said they were in Akwa Ibom to see how to establish business ties with the government.
Oriyomi enumerated the core mandate of BOI to include the provision of financial assistance for large, medium and small ventures.
He called for collaboration between the state governments and BOI to develop and grow profitable businesses across the nation.
Oriyomi also described Akwa Ibom as a veritable terrain populated with people of enterprising dispositions.
He said that plans were underway to establish a branch of BOI in Uyo.