26/05/2020
UNYIME IDEM AND THE MOTIVATION FOR SMEs
By Abasiono Dan
The contributions of the Member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency, Hon. Unyime Idem to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs can best be described in the words of John Quincy Adams, the Sixth President of the United States (1825–29), that, "if your actions inspires others to dream more, learn more and become more, you are a leader". Hon. Unyime is a leader cm entrepreneur who has inspired many other entrepreneurs to kick start their own enterprises in the era where white collar jobs are very scarce.
As a rare breed and compendium of business ideas who has ascended to the highest political office in his Federal Constituency, Hon. Unyime has continued to render support and mentorship to young people and entrepreneurs.
His openness and accessibility to the public and his constituents is of particular interest, and should be emulated by other political office holders in the state and country. His accessibility has enabled Idem to provide the needed coverage to young entrepreneurs.
The recent presentation of N250,000 to an Ukanafun born young entrepreneur, Monday Emmanson who lost out in the entrepreneural contest organized by Office of the Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly is one big testament of the philanthropic gesture of Hon. Idem who is particularly interested in human capital development and the growth of youths of his constituents.
Monday Emmanson while remaining grateful to his benefactor and loyal to the system will therefore have to judiciously utilitize the donation, eschew all forms of distraction in his new found entrepreneural oil adventure, remain focused and determined to make the difference among his contemporaries.
Unyime Idem has been a consistent motivation to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs through various ways:
His SMEs related bills and motions in the National Assembly, example, out of the five bills standing in the National Assembly to the credit of Hon. Idem, two of the bills directly is to the benefit of entrepreneurs and SMEs, those bills include; the Entrepreneurship Education Promotion Bill, 2020, the Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Development Agency Act (Amendment) Bill.
Significant to mention as one of the outstanding contributions of Hon. Idem to the growth of SMEs and entrepreneurs in Akwa Ibom State is the tremendous impact of his leading financial institution located in Uyo, the Standford Microfinance Bank which has been facilitating loans to the teaming population to help start up their own businesses.
On assumption of duty at the National Assembly, the firm believer of entrepreneurship who has mentored many entrepreneurs and also hosted various mentorship sessions via free entrepreneurial seminars from Uyo to Lagos, etc in a rare exhibition for the growth of SMEs and entrepreneurs, initiated a skill acquisition programme which is accommodating over five thousand youths of his constituency in various skills. And as if that is not enough, Idem initiated a skill acquisition centre project which is currently ongoing not in one of the local governments, but in the two local governments making up the Federal Constituency.
As an erudite expert, Idem's approach to SMEs and entrepreneurship if properly understood and utilized by his constituents, will definitely help to cushion the post COVID-19 economic crisis, because following his steps, one will understand that one of the major solutions to repositioning Nigeria and Akwa Ibom after the COVID-19 pandemic is to rebuild and foster the growth of SMEs.
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© Abasiono Dan writes from Ukanafun Edem Inyang, Ward 5, Ukanafun LGA
