3rd April, 2017
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Lagos State Government says it will explore the Rural Financing Institution, RUFIN, it established to fight unemployment at the grassroots.
The government said farmers could explore the availability of RUFIN to obtain loan to be self-employed and self-reliance.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Food Security, Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Ganiyu Okanlawon Sanni made this known during an Interactive meeting organized by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs for the Community Development Committee (CDC), Community Development Associations (CDAs) and other stakeholders across the State held at the Secretariat, Alausa, in Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
According to Sanni, “the present administration is ensuring that apart from securing lives and properties, the administration is determined to ensure that good food are available, affordable and accessible throughout the State.”
He added that the RUFIN programme would reduce the unemployment rate and thereby promote traditional and social entrepreneurship in the State.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communities and Communication, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan called on community leaders in the state to rally round the present administration to ensure that all its plans, programmes and projects were fulfilled.
He maintained that all the government programmes should be embraced by everyone, adding that the programmes were meant for the development of communities and enhancing the dividends of democracy.
Speaking on behalf of the Executive Secretary, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, Mrs. Teju Abisoye emphasized that the main initiative of the agency was to support residents seeking to start or expand their businesses and support them with skill acquisitions to make them employable.
She added that various interventions had been initiated to create jobs in Lagos State, energize the state’s economy and increase production of goods and services.
“We are currently in the pilot phase working to provide funding and business support to over 1,000 entrepreneurs. The pilot scheme will also provide opportunity to improve or acquire skills for at least 10,000 unemployed youths’’ she said.
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor on Community Affairs, Alhaji Tajudeen Quadri in his remarks noted that the essence of the interactive meeting could not be over emphasized, stating that the present administration knew the importance of the CDAs which comprised the senior citizens and other stakeholders rendering selfless services in their communities