Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia has identified small scale industries as key to national development.
Ikpeazu said this at an interactive session with the Traditional Rulers Council in Bende Local Government Area of the state.
He said that small scale industries had made more contribution to the nation’s socio-economic development than any other sector of the economy.
He said that small scale industries had the capacity to solve the problem of unemployment in the nation, if adequately harnessed.
He said that promoting the establishment of small scale industries would greatly boost national productivity.
The governor said that his administration remained resolute in boosting the growth of small scale industries in Abia and the nation at large.
He said that under his watch, the state would continue to initiate more schemes and priviledges that would yield increased participation of the people of Abia in small scale enterprise.
He described the people of Bende as key players in the small scale manufacturing sector of the Abia economy.
Ikpeazu added that it was pertinent for the people of the area to support initiatives that would help to promote small scale industries.
Responding, the Chairman of the council, Eze Patrick Ude, said that the people of Bende would not relent in contributing to the socio-economic transformation of Abia.
Ude appealed to the state government to implement the payment of the five per cent monthly stipend for traditional rulers in the state
He promised that they would educate their subjects to vote wisely in the general elections. (NAN)