Plateau State Government through the Plateau State Microfinance development agency (PLASMIDA) today distributed starter packs to 500 participants who graduated from the Phase IV Simon Bako Lalong empowerment Schemes(SLEMS) where graduates from various lines of skills acquisitions involving Fishery, tailoring, poultry, Hairdressing, Aluminum works, Cosmetology, catering, leather works, ICT etc were been trained by the Agency and today held their graduation ceremony where they were empowered with started packs to kick start officially.
While addressing the graduates the Director-General PLASMIDA Mr Haggai Gutap appreciated the participants for their commitment and dedication towards becoming self-employed by being entrepreneurs of their own and encouraged them to judiciously make use of their starter packs/kits to make a living so they can also become employers of labour which would, in turn, leads to the economic development and growth of the state and nation as well. He said Plateau State has produced a lot of entrepreneurs who are now employers of labour through such programme by the agency where the likes of Engr Jerry Mallo represented the State at the national level, the first plateau Man to invent a tractor and Car, also Mafeng who won the MSMEs award of 2018 in furniture and fittings and today we have other great talented people, where he said plateau is now called the face of MSMEs in Nigeria. He further unveils the plan to set up ‘the state own artists/actors/actresses which he said there would soon be “Nollywood In Plateau” State where talented artist and actors would be trained here at home and would lure others to envy and come patronize the services and products of the state, he gave references to famous artists that were discovered in plateau before living the state in search of a greener light through patronage and made mention of few who are still Plateau based and more to be unveiled and assures the people of the state that the agency with the support of the State Government will make sure they discover so many talents and train them to showcase Jos to the world.
Many past beneficiaries of the SLEMs project were there and gave in their testimonies on how the agency has trained them through the SLEMS project and made them employers of labour many of which have their factories and apprentice
And also distributors across the country.
The Governor Rt hon Simon Bako Lalong presented the starter kits to the graduates while appreciating them for their commitment and also advised them to make good use of the products in developing the state through such empowerment.
The Ujah Anaguta, Commissioner of commerce and industry Hon Abbey Aku, Commissioner of Local Govt and Chieftaincy affairs Hon Slyvester Tapgun, Hon Jerry Werr, Hon Hamza Sumaya, Hon Dan Manjang and many distinguish Guest present at the event…
