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| President Goodluck Jonathan |
President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday inaugurated the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan and the National Enterprise Development Programme.
He also said the various policies so far put in place by his administration were clear indications that he would leave the country better and stronger than he met it.
Jonathan recalled that prior to the launch organised by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he had inaugurated the Mortgage Refinance Company, the Dry Season Farming and had also hosted a conference on the private sector financing of the power sector.
He said all these were borne out of his desire to build legacies that would outlive his administration.
Jonathan said, “This year, we have launched the Mortgage Refinancing Company, that is another area that will revolutionarise the housing sector, where people will be able to build their own affordable houses instead of paying rent.
“We have also launched the dry season farming scheme and have revolutionised agriculture with our new initiatives that all the players in agriculture including the World Bank are commending the Nigerian programmes and today, we are launching this twin programme – Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan and the National Enterprise Development Programme.
“These are clear indications that we will leave this country stronger and better than we met it.
“With diligent implementation of these revolutionary programmes that we are launching today, we can tell Nigerians that our country is set for development.”
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, had earlier in his opening remarks, explained that NEDEP was designed to address the neglect that SMEs had suffered in the past.
Aganga said his ministry had so far created 10,000 cooperatives societies while his target was to create 50,000 every year and produce one million direct jobs yearly.
He said with the present administration’s feat in the cement industry which led to the exportation of the commodity, his ministry was ready to replicate same in 15 other sectors.
“If we can do it in cement, we can do it in 15 other sectors. The plan is holistic. We intend to create industrial cities and parks in conjunction with the state governments. We must consume what we produce which means local content is a must,” the minister added.
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