By Nanmwa Golok

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State on Wednesday empowered over 3,000 women and youths in the state saying it is aimed at fighting poverty. Governor Lalong, who was represented by the Deputy governor Sonni Toyden also presented starter packs to some of the trainees that participated in the four-month Simon Lalong Entrepreneurship Scheme (SLES), skills training organised through Plateau State Microfinance and Development Agency, PLASMEDA.

Lalong urged the beneficiaries to contribute their quota in growing the business industry in the state. Also speaking at the occasion, the Director General of Plateau State Microfinance Development Agency Haggai Gutap said under the Simon Lalong empowerment scheme, we have graduated over 3,000 trainees in the first phase of the scheme, 260 respectively in partnership with ITF and today 310 in partnership with Plateau Youth Council,

3. Pastoralist each of them was empowered with knowledge and starter packs to start their own business.

“We at Plateau State Microfinance development agency and the entire youths, women and Plateau people celebrate our governor Simon Lalong for his efforts at tackling poverty in the state. ” “Sir you have proffered solution to the current monster that has bedeviled the global economy called economic recession, your efforts towards ensuring that the economy of the state bounces back and remain competitive are evident through your double edged sword approach where non civil servants today receive alert along side with the civil servants counterparts through the enabling environment that you have provided for PLASMiDA to serve as an agent to the Bank of Industry on the implementation of Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme GEEP, where over 2,000 people have benefited and the process is still ongoing ”

“Since the establishment of Plateau State Microfinance development agency, we have achieved a lot through your support which have led to the establishment of a non stop shop the first of its kind in Nigeria and I wish to appeal for more support to enable us expand our outreach to the grassroots of our community for greater depth and impact, I wish to put in on record that you have created thousand of jobs on the Plateau today if each of the  entrepreneurs we have empowered will employ one person each this will lead to employment generation. “

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PLSG empowers over 3,000 youths & women in Plateau