Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji has made a case for the inclusion of graduated trainees of Adire Ekiti to be included in the special loan scheme for women being financed by Access Bank Plc in collaboration with the Ekiti State Government
The First Lady made the call on Tuesday when she received a delegation from Access Bank, who paid her a courtesy visit in her office at Funmilayo Olayinka Women Centre, Ado Ekiti.
The delegation was led by the Regional Sales Director (Southwest), Access Bank, Mr. Bolaji Aboderin. The Access Bank team was joined on the visit by the Commissioner for Trade, Investment, Industry and Cooperatives, Mrs. Omotayo Adeola.
Dr. Oyebanji lauded the Bank for partnering with the Ekiti State Government in growing the economy in grassroots and giving credit facilities to the people to better their lots economically.
The First Lady explained that a total number of 400 young men and women from Ekiti Central and Ekiti South Senatorial Districts had been trained and graduated from the Adire Ekiti Hub with many of them doing fine in the craft.
Dr. Oyebanji stressed the need for the credit worthy ones among them to be incorporated into the special loans scheme for women being floated by the Bank in collaboration with the state government.
She said: “We are in it together; if there is anything that borders on people’s welfare, the Governor doesn’t joke with it, neither do I. I have many women who were trained in Adire making that need to be assisted.
“People have been earning income through it (Adire making). I want to discuss with the Honourable Commissioner so that some of them can also come on this programme, especially those who are credit worthy among them. ”
Earlier in his remarks, the Access Bank Regional Sales Director (Southwest), Mr. Aboderin, declared the readiness of the bank to always partner with Ekiti State Government on issues that will promote investment and boost the businesses of the citizens.
Mr. Aboderin explained that the special loan scheme for women was part of many initiatives in the stable of the bank to collaborate with the state government to boost the economy of the state especially in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
He also disclosed that the bank is on an expansion drive with the opening of a new branch in Ise Ekiti last week to take banking services nearer to the people in that axis.
The Access Bank chief pledged the readiness of his organization to make Ekiti an investment-friendly state both in formal and informal sectors.