CBN gov hands over projects to MOUAU

GOVERNOR of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele, has officially handed over the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development building (a CBN 2011 intervention project) to the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State.

It was a project purely designed for the South-East zone.

Speaking during the event, Mr Emefiele, represented by a deputy director in the bank, Mr Oluwole Owoeye, appealed to residents of the state and the entire South-East to take advantage of the centre to develop their skills.

Describing the project as part of CBN’s corporate social responsibilities, Emefiele said the Entrepreneur Development Centre (EDC) is designed to develop skills for small and medium scale enterprises.

He said: “In Nigeria, we have realised that for now there is a dearth of skills; people don’t have relevant skills. So, the essence of this thing is for people to develop skills in various areas, so that they can be independent.

“We know that Aba is well known for a lot of SMEs; so, I want to use this medium to appeal to the people in Aba, its environs and entire Abia to come and patronise this centre, so that we will build up their skills.”

Mr Emefiele also called on the Abia State government to assist MOUAU in supplying facilities that may be lacking in the centre, in order to sustain it.

In his address, the vice chancellor, Professor Otunta, appreciated Professor Ikenna Oyido (the administration under whom the project was attracted and commenced); Professor Hilary Odo Edeoga (for sustaining the development of the project) and the CBN for conceiving the idea that birthed the edifice from the start to the completion of it.

Earlier in his welcome address, the director, Centre for Entrepreneurship, MOUAU, Professor Oji Onu Ekumankama, commended the CBN governor for reaffirming his interest in the CED and for promoting entrepreneurial education and training in the university.