The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), is poised to train, develop and deliver quality entrepreneurs geared towards reducing unemployment across the 8,000 square kilometers of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The Acting Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer of the Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA), Mr. Chudi Ugwuada-Ezirigwe, gave this assurance in his office at Mabushi District, Abuja, Friday.
According to him, this feat will be achieved and sustained in consonance with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Administration.
Ugwuada-Ezirigwe restated that the Abuja Enterprise Agency has been tailored towards achieving this objective since inception.
His words: The Agency is poised to continue the delivery of professional entrepreneurship development services to Residents of the FCT towards the resolve of the FCT Administration to actualize the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.”
The Managing Director also commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, and the Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, for steps taken so far since assumption of duties as Ministers of FCT to upscale the revenue base of the FCT Administration.
Ugwuada-Ezirigwe, who stressed that some of the policy directions and actions of the Minister are already transforming the nation’s capital city, added that the streets of Abuja are once again wearing new look, as a result of the Minister’s pragmatic leadership style.
He also assured the Minister of unalloyed support and commitment of all staff of the Agency towards the actualization of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.
Ugwuada-Ezirigwe said that as a proactive Agency, public enlightenment has kicked off on the need for full compliance by Residents and business owners on the recent Ministerial directive mandating all Ministries, Departments and Agencies; the FCTA Secretariats, Departments and Agencies as well as Commercial Banks to demand for requisite Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) from any person, business or enterprise for the last three years preceding the current year of assessment as a precondition for transacting any business or access to public service provision in the FCT,in line with Section 31 of the FCT-IRS Act.
The Managing Director explained that payment of taxes is not a punitive measure, but rather part of citizens obligation to enable Government embark on provision of social services and infrastructural development for the overall benefit of the citizenry.
Demonstrating full grasp of the mandate of the Agency, Ugwuada-Ezirigwe explained that since its creation in 2006, the Agency has disbursed several Start-up Packs to entrepreneurs, who have shown the capacity to deliver on their businesses as well as Residents with bankable business ideas, but lack the requisite capital to set up their businesses, equipped unemployed youths with ICT skills and other skills organized trainings for retiring staff of FCTA and other Establishments.
He stated that the Agency in line with its One Village Product Initiative developed and upgraded in a sustainable and professional manner, certain agricultural products found to have comparative advantage scale among the six Area Councils of the FCT for both subsistence and commercial purposes.
On the achievements of the Agency over the years, he remarked that the Agency has developed a range of programmes and activities covering entrepreneurship training and curriculum development, business advisory for its numerous clients.
Speaking further, he said as an Agency of Government saddled with the responsibility of wealth creation and employment generation, AEA usually place on the development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises as well as assisting new and existing entrepreneurs to overcome obstacles to business growth, through access to finance, proper business planning and providing training on matters of entrepreneurial development.
The Managing Director revealed that over the years, the Agency has developed a strong and rewarding partnership with a number of Industry Stakeholders, relevant Government Organizations, Financial Institutions, International Development Partners and successful Creative Practitioners to deliver required services to its clients satisfactori
