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The World Bank has lauded the effort of Abuja Enterprise Agency for stimulating Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the nation’s capital Territory, particularly within the rural dwellers in the rural areas of the six Area Councils of the FCT.
The Senior Financial Sector Specialist, Pranita Sengupta gave the commendation during her visit to the Headquarters of the Agency, in Jahi-Abuja.
Sengupta rated activities of the Abuja Enterprise Agency high for stimulating Small and Medium Enterprises within the last three years in the territory.
Commenting on the presentation made by the acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Mr. Chudi Ugwuada-Ezirigwe, Sengupta expressed satisfaction with the leadership and management of the Agency for upholding global best practices in all areas of its business operations, as it concerns SMEs and entrepreneurial development in FCT.
She said she was particularly excited and impressed, considering the fact that the Agency’s engagement focuses more on the development, promotion and growth of Start-up businesses in rural communities of Kwali, Abaji, Gwagwalada, Bwari, Kuje and AMAC.
She added that the World Bank areas of assessment include: accurate data gathering and management, capacity building, fair, equitable and transparent disbursement of funds to SMEs, effective and user-friendly ICT Network development, widespread advocacy and campaigns, courteous staff-client’s relationship, amongst others.
Speaking further, the top World Bank Official explained that the purpose of the visit was to assist the Agency to provide solutions on areas of challenges as well as working towards assisting the Agency to expand the capacity of SMEs in FCT.
Earlier, the acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Abuja Enterprise Agency, Mr. Chudi Ugwuada-Ezirigwe, expressed deep appreciation to World Bank for establishing and sustaining strong partnership with the Agency and the FCT Administration over the years.
He extensively explained the activities of the Agency as well as achievements made so far, stressing that as an Agency of the FCT Administration saddled with the task of job creation, wealth creation and poverty reduction, AEA has held tenaciously to the corporate culture establishing the Agency, such as transparency, integrity, accountability, due process, courteous staff-customer’s relationship, to mention but a few.
Mr. Ezirigwe who used the opportunity to plead with the World Bank to increase its support to the Agency to enable the Agency capture more SMEs in its database, stressed that bringing more SMEs into the Agency’s database will help in the actualization of the renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is hinged on reducing poverty drastically.
The Acting CEO also thanked the FCT Administration under the leadership of the Honourable Minister of FCT, His Excellency, Nyesom Wike for providing the enabling environment for the Agency to discharge its mandate efficiently and effectively.
Harping further, he appealed to the World Bank to deploy its cutting-edge technology to assist in the training of the staff of the Agency, who in turn will transfer knowledge acquired to the SME operators in a bid to bridge the knowledge gap noticeable amongst them.
 
Olusola Akintonde