Over 2,000 tourism entrepreneurs in Ekiti State are to benefit from the Sterling Bank Tourism Development Scheme.
Making this known while addressing representatives of members of the informal sector in Ado Ekiti yesterday, the Senior Special Assistant, SSA, to the governor of Ekiti State on Tourism Development, Wale Ojo – Lanre, revealed that the Sterling Bank Tourism Development Scheme for Ekiti State was at the instance of Governor Kayode Fayemi’s quests of opening low funding avenue for members of the informal sectors to grow their businesses.
In the meeting, scheduled by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant, SSA, to the governor on Tourism Development, Bureau of Job Creation, Labour and Productivity and Office of Informal Sector at the Conference Hall, Governor’s office, Ado Ekiti, Ojo- Lanre commended the management of Sterling Bank Plc for being proactive and resourceful enough in tapping into the golden field of the tourism sector.
Pointing out that the scheme would be administered to guilds of tourism artisans, pot makers, mat weavers, cluster craft and handiwork makers, buka operators, bars owners, souvenir producers, bush meat sellers, tricycle and okada operators, palm wine tappers and those offering ancillary tourism products, Ojo – Lanre said that Governor Fayemi believes that sustainable tourism development in Ekiti State can not be attained without the active participation and vibrancy of the members of the informal sector, hence his determination to reinvigorate and reinforce the informal sector with financial safety valves
Director-Generlal, Bureau of Job Creation, Labour and Productivity, Mr Lanre Ogunjobi, applauded Governor Fayemi for his genuine love for the economic emancipation of members of the 8nformal sector by opening access to low-interest funds and grants.
Mr Ogunjobi rolled out several entrepreneurial interventions, which Governor Fayemi has initiated for members of the informal sectors, the aged and youths.
He also affirmed the commitment of Governor Fayemi to the total eradication of poverty and wretchedness in Ekiti State via employment creation, honing entrepreneurial skill both for the formal and informal sectors
The Special Assistant to the governor on Informal Sector, Mr Oroya Aladeloye, praised Governor Fayemi for always enhancing the status and addressing the welfare of the members of the informal sector.
He therefore called on the members to rise and seize the opportunities being offered by Sterling Bank, the only bank in Nigeria with the mission of developing the tourism sector.
Chairman of Ekiti StateHoteliers’ Association, Chief Samuel Korode, commended Fayemi for his inclination to seek the best for the tourism sector.
He applauded Sterling Bank for thinking about Ekiti and assured the bank of the patronage of the members of the informal sector.
