As a follow up to the Flag-off which took place a fortnight ago, Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA) has intensified the Financial Literacy and Inclusion Awareness Campaigns by taking the sensitization message to Bwari Township and Dutse Market in Bwari Area Council this week.

Last week, the Sensitization was taken to Wuse and Nyanyan Markets in Abuja Municipal Area Council. 

In a Press Statement signed by the Team Lead, Corporate Communications of AEA, Mr. Emmanuel Tortiv on Friday, the AEA Sensitization Team is said to have held a well attended Town Hall on Thursday at the Area Council Secretariat in Bwari where intensive education was carried on Tax Payment, Budgeting, Savings, Financial Planning, Managing Risks, , Financial Frauds and Scams as well as Retirement Planning. 

The statement said the Bwari Area Council Chairman Dr. John Gabaya who was represented by the Ag. Director of Administration at the Council Mr. Isah Musa Yerima said the Financial Literacy and Inclusion Awareness Campaign was a good initiative of the AEA due to the challenges faced by people in the rural areas. 

He said most often those who ventured into entrepreneurship had their dreams shattered due to ignorance. "One of the challenges the local people you see here have is that they squander the initial capital for every business venture they go into. The training is timely at a time like this especially now that the harvesting period is at hand and if they use the income they will realize from their farms, it will be of help to them." Stated Mr Yerima. He called on the Management of AEA to assist them with incentives that will enable them succeed in their businesses. 

Mr. Tortiv further said the MD/CEO of Abuja Enterprise Agency Mr Chudi Ugwuada-Ezirigwe expressed appreciation to Bwari Area Council Administration for supporting MSMEs in the area. He maintained that AEA was indeed glad to partner with the Area Council in bringing the Financial Literacy Campaigns to people of the area. 

Represented by the Manager, Partnerships and Strategy Mal. Usman Isiaka Usman, the MD said the Campaign which started in Dutse was ending in Bwari to ensure that a larger chunk of the population benefited from the initiative as a way of encouraging efforts of the Hon. Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike to boost the growth of businesses in the Territory through his rural transformation initiatives. 

Mr. Ugwuada-Ezirigwe said "Abuja Enterprise Agency is here to ensure that your businesses experience exponential growth from where it is to another level. Dangote started his business selling sugar in bags but today he has Companies everywhere. Who says you cannot become the next Dangote?".

He encouraged them to make the best use of the Sensitization to expand their businesses and support their families for a more prosperous FCT. 

Furthermore, the Press Release said earlier on Wednesday, the Sensitization Team was at the popular Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide Shopping Arcade where shop owners and consumers who trooped into the Market in droves for their regular businesses were treated to free financial education and counseling on best business practices and entrepreneurship. 

While staff of the Agency took turns to distribute leaflets, fliers and every other information brochures to the larger chunk of the market, interested persons trooped in and out of the tent which was strategically placed in the center of the Arcade to get answers to their enquiries. 

Bunmi Hassan, owner of Shop B22 on Line C said the Financial Literacy Campaigns touched her life particularly in making informed decisions ahead of the yuletide Season. "Just when Christmas and New Year sales  are around the corner, Abuja Enterprise Agency is coming in with the right message which I will use to increase my turnovers." Stated Mrs Hassan. 

Also in her opinion, Lamin Bissalah said the Sensitization will go a long way in eliminating the fraudulent activities most traders suffer 'in the hands of fraudsters' who keep deceiving them with mouthwatering offers to snatch from them the little they made at the end of the day.
Speaking in an interview, the Manager, Corporate Services of AEA, Mr.Bolaji Asuni, said the Financial Literacy and Awareness Campaigns had reached an 'irreversible' level as the Campaign was being well received by the people of the Territory. He called on residents of the Territory to take advantage of the free education endowed by the Campaigns to improve their participation in business.