Over 6,000 businesses benefit from Enugu SME CAC formalisation grant

Enugu Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Centre said, yesterday, that over 6,000 businesses have benefitted from its Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) formalisation grant.

The Director General of the centre and Special Adviser to Enugu State Governor on SMEs, Arinze Offiah, said the beneficiaries, who included 4,263 men and 2,500 women were also assisted with Tax Identification Number (TIN) registration and corporate account opening with Union Bank.

Offiah said the gesture was in consonance with determination of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi administration to assist micro, small and medium enterprises grow in the state.

He further stated that the beneficiaries were drawn from the following sectors: Advertising/Media, Agriculture and Agriculture Value Chain, Creative Industry, Education, Healthcare, Logistics, Manufacturing and Trading.

He thanked the state and federal governments, as well as the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for making it possible for Enugu business owners benefit from the scheme, adding that they hoped to increase the number to 10,000 by the end of December, 2022.

Some of the beneficiaries expressed joy that they were selected, while thanking the Enugu SME Centre.

One of the beneficiaries said that with the formalisation with CAC, he could now approach corporate organisations to do business with them.

“Words won’t be enough to express how I feel about this certificate and corporate account. I have been denied several jobs because of this but the centre made it easy for at no cost.

“When I was asked to apply for the formalisation process, I thought it was one of those government rhetoric that never happens. I decided to give it a try since it was free. I couldn’t believe I now have an account with the bank and a business name registered with the commission,” Ejike Ude said.