Kano Assembly passes bill establishing SME development agency

The Kano State House of Assembly, on Monday, passed a bill for the establishment of the Kano State Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Development Agency.

The bill passed the third reading, after deliberations at the Committee of the Whole during the plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Alhaji Jibrin Falgore.

During the deliberation, the lawmakers took turns to express their support for the bill, emphasizing its potential to boost local industries, reduce unemployment, and improve the state’s business climate.

In a brief remark shortly after the passage, the Majority Leader, Alhaji Lawan Husseini, said that the bill was passed after undergoing the necessary legislative processes.

READ ALSO:GMOs: Experts draw attention of NSA to risks of gene editing

Husseini also said that the agency would be charged with the responsibility of regulating, developing and facilitating development programmes and other matters connected.

He said that the agency was also expected to provide a more structured and supportive environment for small and medium-sized businesses across the state.

“The bill seeks to create an agency that will streamline the growth and development of SMEs in the state.

READ ALSO:Unijos offers admission to 67 foreign students

“It is anticipated that it will empower entrepreneurs and foster job creation, thereby contributing significantly to the state’s economic growth,” Husseini said.

He further said that the agency would play a pivotal role in transforming the business landscape of Kano by assisting entrepreneurs, particularly in the areas of skill acquisition and access to credit facilities.

READ ALSO:World may have entered era of 1.5C warming, scientists say

A manufacturer, Alhaji Sabo Ali, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the passage of the bill, called for its prompt implementation once it received Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf’s assent.

According to Ali, the bill’s passage marks a significant step toward enhancing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the state and is seen as a key initiative in the government’s efforts to diversify Kano’s economy.