In a continued effort to promote innovation and support economic growth in Kogi Central, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has empowered students from tertiary institutions with multipurpose business carts and facilitated free Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration for 2,500 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the district.
The initiative, announced in a statement personally signed by the senator and released on Sunday, aims to foster self-reliance among indigent students, market women, and other business owners. “This initiative is part of our continued efforts to drive innovation in governance and impact the lives of indigent students of Kogi Central origin in tertiary institutions across the country,” Akpoti-Uduaghan explained. “It also enables students, market women, and other business owners to register their businesses with the CAC at no cost.”
The distributed business empowerment carts are designed to promote entrepreneurship and equip students with the necessary resources to start and grow profitable businesses, reducing reliance on government support. The carts come equipped with tools for barbing and clean cooking kiosks, providing a wide range of business opportunities.
During the event, the senator highlighted the significance of business registration for accessing grants and loans from government and private sectors. “The registration, which would have cost N11,000 per business, has been fully covered by my office at a total cost of N27.5 million,” she said.
In attendance were notable figures including Member of the House of Representatives Abdulraheem Abdulmaleek Danga, Kogi State Assembly Member Bode Ogunmola, and representatives from the CAC, SMEDAN, and the Ebira Peoples Association. The CAC’s FCT Zonal Office, led by Mr. Bello Muftahu, was also present to oversee the business registrations.
The beneficiaries included students from institutions such as Kogi State Polytechnic, Kogi State University, and Ahmadu Bello University, among others. Each received start-up funds and transport allowances, alongside their business kits.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, known for her advocacy for self-reliance and sustainable development, stressed the importance of understanding the business ecosystem and utilizing legal business frameworks for long-term success.
