Ahmad Tijjani Abdul
The Chairman Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has Flagged off free Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration for 2,500 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Kogi Central.
A statement by Isa Bala, Aide to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan that was made available to newsmen explained that the initiative is part of her continued efforts to drive innovation in governance and impact the lives of indigent students of Kogi Central origin in tertiary institutions across the country.
Mr. Bala further stated that the gesture would also makes it possible for students, market women, and other business owners to register their businesses with the CAC at no cost.
The flag-off of the free CAC business registration also helped the students register their businesses on the spot.
Other business owners were also helped to register their businesses with certificates of registration presented to them on the spot.
The reads in part : “With the flag-off, the CAC business registration across Kogi Central will commence in each of the constituency offices in the five local government areas to capture 2,500 SMEs.
The registration, which would have cost N11,00 each, was paid for by the lawmaker, covering the total cost of N27,500,000 for the registration of all 2,500 SMEs.”
Speaking during the programme, Senator Natasha said, she has been a social entrepreneur, advocating for self-reliance and skills for sustainable development before becoming a political reformer.
She emphasized the important of learning about the ecosystem of a business, adding it has become necessary for business owners to register their businesses as it is the foundation of any legal business to acquire the right benefits.
She disclosed the 2,500 businesses that will be registered by the CAC are already taken care of by her office.
She explained that the business carts are given to the National Association of Ebira Students (NAES) in the selected institutions to run the business and support the students who are underprivileged in their midst.
The lawmaker gave each of the beneficiaries start-up fund and a token for their transport to their various destinations.
The beneficiary institutions include: Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, Federal College of Education, Okene, Bayero University, Kano,Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa and Kaduna State Polytechnic.