By Mike Adeyemi
The Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Kwara State has bemoaned the stringent requirements to access loans.
The Chairman, Mr. Ayo Ajisefini in an interview with Pilot Business, at the weekend, called on the Bank of Industry to make its loan acquisition requirements flexible.
Ajisefini stated that only few members of the association have been able to access the loans, adding that most operators in the SMEs sector do not have collateral to get the credit facility.
He also urged the bank to step up sensitisation on its loan schemes for micro, small and medium scale enterprises.
“This will encourage our members to key into the different SMEs loans scheme available in the bank. We want our people to take advantage and this can only be achieved when there are strategies and well coordinated sensitisation programmes by the bank here in Kwara.
“This will not only expose them to different types of loans but it will go a long way to assist them on how to run their businesses efficiently,” he noted.
While noting that members constitute larger percentage in the state business sector, he called on the state government to continue to provide environment that is conducive for economic activities to thrive.
On the just concluded 7th Kwara Trade Fair, the chairman advised the organisers to consider a better location for easy accessibility of patrons for subsequent events.
