By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), has inaugurated modern Moringa Tea/Oil processing facility for Women Economic Empowerment Initiative (WEEI) in Taraba.
The Director-General of the agency, Dr Dikko Radda said this on Saturday in Jalingo.
According to him, the One Local Government One Programme (OLOP) initiated by SMEDAN has impacted more than 336 enterprises in Nigeria and created employment for over 10,000 persons.
He explained that data from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment had shown that more than 37.07 million Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) accounted for over 84 per cent of jobs in the country.
He said inauguration of the Moringa Tea/Oil Modern facility was in line with the core mandate of the agency to serve as a vanguard for rural industrialisation, poverty reduction, job creation and enhancement of livelihoods.
He said that three businesses had been empowered in the state to create jobs for more than 1,000 youths.
Governor Darius Ishaku who was represented by the Commissioner of Commerce, Alhaji Tanimu Njeke expressed readiness to partner with the agency to develop small and medium scale industries in Taraba.