Authority newspapers, Jonathan, Osinbajo, Union bank, others win African SME awards

 www.odogwublog.com reports that the Authority Newspapers has won the prestigious " Best African SME Newspaper of the Year 2017 Award" by the African Association of Small & Medium Enterprises ( AASME).

Other recipients of various categories of the  award were former President Goodluck Jonathan who was honoured with the " African SME Platinum Award 2017 "  ( the first to be so honoured) for introducing SME development fund during his tenure which enabled SME operators to have access to " N220 billion, and later N350 billion" funds  to boost their business.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo won the " African SME Diamond Award" as the best "African Vice President in promoting and developing the MSME sector in Nigeria by establishing SME Clinic in Aba,  and for touring 21 MSME cities in Nigeria within one year as Acting President".

Other recipients included : Professor Bath Nnaji for building Power Plant in Aba which will boost the businesses of SME operators in the city; Union Bank as  " The Best SME Development Bank";  the late Premier of Eastern Region , Dr. Michael Okpara for his agricultural revolution, among others.

Speaking at the colourful event yesterday at the Binez Hotels Aba, Abia State, the President, AASME, Ambassador Darlington Kalu, said the awards were in recognition of the contributions of the various recipients  in promoting SME in Africa.

He particularly commended The AUTHORITY Newspapers for projecting the activities of SME operators in Nigeria especially Aba, which according to him tremendously helped in  " pushing made in Aba products" to the global spotlight.

The AASME boss noted with delight that " The AUTHORITY correspondent has covered and publicized our  activities and programmes without asking for any incentives ", adding that though new on the news stand, the newspaper has made its mark as one of the leading national dailies with growing readership.

In his response, the Managing Director/ Editor - in - Chief, Mr. Madu Onuora, thanked AASME for its dogged efforts in coordinating  SMEs in Africa , and for attracting both foreign  and local funds and partnership  to the operators in the sector.

The MD represented by the Abia State Correspondent, Mr. Steve Oko, also thanked the association for recognising the contributions of The Authority Newspapers in the promotion of SMEs in Nigeria, and promised to sustain such efforts.

His words: " We feel so honoured by this recognition, and be assured that we will always be there for you. We will continue to use our platform to project the ingenuity of millions of SME operators in Nigeria especially the enterprising  artisans in Aba , Onitsha, Nnewi and others for the world to see that Africa can be a major global economic player."

 PHOTO: L- R: Chairman, Association of Table Water Producers, Abia State, Elder Osita Osakwe; Abia State Correspondent of The Authority Newspapers, Mr. Steve Oko; and the President Association of African Small & Medium Enterprises ( AASME), Ambassador Darlington Kalu, in a group photograph after The Authority Newspapers was conferred with the award of " The Best African SME Newspaper of the 2017 Award" at the Binez Hotels Aba, yesterday.