For the third consecutive year, the Federal Government through the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, has recognized Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan's strides in poverty reduction among the rural and urban poor.
The apex bank at its fifth Annual Micro-finance Conference and Entrepreneur awards which held today in Abuja, gave an award to Dr. Uduaghan for supporting the state micro-credit programme.
President Goodluck Jonathan, represented at the occasion by the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Senator Jubril Martins Kuye, presented the award.
The president lauded the strengthening of the state micro-credit programme with three billion naira in the year under review by Governor Uduaghan, a development which gave over eight five thousand people, mostly women, access to easy finance.
He said the Federal Government was committed to improving the living standards of the people, while appealing to all to partner the CBN to enlighten the grassroots on the benefits of micro-credit finance.
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan expressed excitement at the award, and said the state micro-credit programme was a veritable tool in the economic empowerment of the people.
Explaining how the state manages the Programme, Dr. Uduaghan said beneficiaries do not get money directly, adding that all disbursements were done through micro-finance banks without interest sum.
He told the gathering that the importance he attached to the Programme informed his direct supervision and personal attendance at all the CBN award ceremonies.
Dr. Uduaghan acknowledged the support of the CBN for the programme and called for support from the organized private sector.
In an interview, Governor Uduaghan dedicated the award to the beneficiaries, adding that the award would encourage the state government to expand the programme for more people to benefit.
Government House correspondent, Jeyere Ugbeye reports that Governor Uduaghan later presented items produced by the beneficiaries of the micro-credit Programme to President Goodluck Jonathan and the CBN Governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi.
The CBN Governor had earlier congratulated Dr. Uduaghan on the award
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