By Polycarp Ifeanyi, Onitsha
Manufacturers and traders in South East were thrown into jubilation when MANSA signed Memorandum of Understanding with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria ( SMEDAN)
The event took place at Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) liasion office, beside Dozzy Oil and Gas Ltd premises, industrial layout, Onitsha, Anambra State during the stakeholders’ engagement forum tagged ” Access to Finance & Cheaper Funding for SMEs in Nigeria and Organised by Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).
Presenting her speech, the former Director of Compliance, Head of ATG MANSA Digital Initiative of Afreximbank, Mrs Maureen Mba said that the objectives of MANSA platform is to facilitate smooth boarding of customers and business relationship, to reduce operational work load and cost of compliance, to enable African financial institutions to cooperate and SMEs to meet customers and business partners’ expectations while ensuring regulatory compliance, to ensure consistency and effectiveness of compliance process, among others.
According to her, Afreximbank would leverage on partnerships with Central Banks, regulatory bodies and financial intelligence units to ensure success of the repository as well as regular audit and review of the MANSA platform for quality assurance purposes.
She further noted that MANSA platform provides a single source of primary data required for performing customers due diligence checks on counterparts in Africa.
Speaking at the event, the Anambra State Commissioner for Industry, Hon. Christian Udechukwu noted that the cardinal purpose of the event was to make manufacturers and traders access funds to enable them improve on production of goods and services, adding that government wanted to accommodate them and provide funds for them.
The Commissioner who represented the Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo urged both the manufacturers and traders to live by example and follow the footsteps of Professor Soludo since the Governor was committed in building access roads to enhance their establishments.
Udechukwu used the opportunity to highlight some of Governor Soludo’s achievements in the State which include empowerment scheme to youths, teachers employment, building health sectors, providing borehole, among others.
He eulogized various critical stakeholders especially Mrs Maureen Mba who spoke at the event as well as the Chairman of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, South East, Lady Ada Chukwudozie for her brilliance coordination.
Fielding questions from newsmen,Lady Chukwudozie hinted that government should subsidize costs of materials for the manufacturers and proffer solutions to their problems.
She extolled Prof Soludo who she said had the interest of manufacturers at heart, saying that the Governor dolled out one million seedlings to different households instead of giving them cash.
” So, instead of the Governor giving them cash, he gave out one million seedlings to each household. Authomatically, they have been empowered for life. Therefore, manufacturers should as well receive incentives so that they would produce more goods and if they produce more, they create wealth, jobs and economy would be abundant and induce Naira to appreciate against Dollars/ “Lady Chukwudozie said.
She further reiterated the need for government to empower manufacturers to enhance nation’s economic growth.
Delivering his vote of thanks, the former President of Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OCCIMA), Pharm. Uche Apakama rained encomium to all and sundry who participated in the event, he specifically lauded the leader of MAN, Lady Chukwudozie.
He disclosed that OCCIMA was still existing and effective, just as he praised Hon. Udechukwu who represented Professor Soludo for gracing the event.
Questions and answers, signing of MoU and traditional dance entertainment formed high point of the event.
