Oyo State government has kicked off the biometric enumeration of traders, artisans, industrialists and members of cooperative societies to promote economic growth.
While unveiling the exercise tagged: “Ise D’otun” held in Ibadan, the head of service, Mrs. Olubunmi Oni, said the exercise would help the government ascertain the details of traders, artisans, Industrialists and members of cooperative societies in the state.
According to her, this will ensure the dividends of democracy get to the targeted members of the public.
The head of service said the present administration was working tirelessly to ensure life is worth living, hence the initiative of “Ise D’otun”.
She, therefore, urged them to cooperate with the state government to ensure the successful collation of their data to enhance their businesses through various support opportunities from the government, stockholders and NGOs.
In his welcome address, the state’s commissioner for trade, industry, investment and cooperatives, Ademola Ojo, said having accurate data of the informal sector would enhance the state government’s access to local and international grants, loans and other support for the participants.
He added that the programme would also give the beneficiaries the opportunity to use their numerical strength to enjoy affordable insurance plans in case of fire outbreak and also give them other business opportunities.
The commissioner stressed that “Ise Dotun” was a laudable business development solution for traders, artisans, cooperatives and small-scale industrialists in Oyo State, aimed at promoting economic growth and development in the State, anchored by the ministry of trade, industry, investment and cooperatives.
According to him, the consultant engaged by the state government to execute the programme, had concluded arrangements with one of the leading network service providers in Nigeria to gather everyone to be enumerated under the Close Users Group (CUG) which would give them the opportunity to make telephone calls to one another at a discounted rate of N500 only per person per month.
On behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Labake Lawal and Alhaji Jubril Adebayo commended the present administration for being a pro-people government through its various programmes designed to alleviate hardship caused by the removal of fuel subsidy.