Emmanuel Daudu
The Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA) has intensified its Financial Literacy and Inclusion Awareness Campaigns, taking its sensitization drive to Bwari Township and Dutse Market in Bwari Area Council this week.
This follows the successful flag-off of the campaign a fortnight ago and similar sessions held at Wuse and Nyanya Markets in the Abuja Municipal Area Council last week.
In a press statement released on Friday by Mr. Emmanuel Tortiv, Team Lead, Corporate Communications of AEA, the agency reported a well-attended town hall meeting held on Thursday at the Bwari Area Council Secretariat. The town hall focused on educating participants on critical topics, including tax payment, budgeting, savings, financial planning, risk management, fraud prevention, and retirement planning.
Representing the Bwari Area Council Chairman, Dr. John Gabaya, the Acting Director of Administration, Mr. Isah Musa Yerima, commended the initiative, highlighting the challenges faced by rural entrepreneurs.
He noted, “One of the challenges local entrepreneurs face is squandering the initial capital for their ventures due to ignorance. This training is timely, especially during the harvest season, as it equips them with knowledge to make better use of their earnings.”
Mr. Yerima also called on AEA to provide additional incentives to support small businesses in the area.
Speaking on behalf of the Managing Director/CEO of AEA, Mr. Chudi Ugwuada-Ezirigwe, the Manager of Partnerships and Strategy, Mal. Usman Isiaka Usman, expressed gratitude to the Bwari Area Council for supporting the campaign.
He emphasized that the initiative aligns with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike’s vision for rural transformation and business growth in the territory.
“Abuja Enterprise Agency is here to ensure your businesses experience exponential growth. Dangote started his business selling sugar in bags, and today, he owns companies across the globe. Who says you cannot become the next Dangote?” Mr. Ugwuada-Ezirigwe remarked, encouraging participants to leverage the campaign to expand their businesses and support their families.
Earlier in the week, on Wednesday, the sensitization team visited the Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide Shopping Arcade. Market traders and consumers received free financial education and counseling on best business practices.
AEA staff distributed informational materials, while a dedicated tent at the center of the arcade allowed attendees to seek guidance and answers to their business related inquiries.
Mrs. Bunmi Hassan, a shop owner, praised the campaign for its timeliness, saying, “With Christmas and New Year sales around the corner, AEA’s message has come at the right time. I will use this knowledge to increase my turnover.”
Similarly, Ms. Lamin Bissalah appreciated the campaign’s focus on fraud prevention, noting its potential to curb the fraudulent schemes often targeted at traders.
Mr. Bolaji Asuni, Manager of Corporate Services at AEA, described the campaign as reaching an “irreversible” momentum, with widespread acceptance across the FCT.
He urged residents to take advantage of the free education to enhance their business prospects.
The campaign, which commenced in Dutse and concluded in Bwari, aims to ensure financial literacy and inclusion reach every corner of the FCT, fostering a more prosperous and business-friendly environment.
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