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.
Authority newspapers, Jonathan, Osinbajo, Union bank, others win African SME awards
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Thursday, February 01, 2018
Rating:

No comments: