Kwara State government has pledged to stimulate pottery business and create jobs through pottery pots and ceramics production with the provision of credit facilities and technology to improve production.
Kayode Oyin-Zubair, senior special assistant to Kwara State Governor on Community Intervention made the pledge on behalf of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq at a meeting with women potters at Dada, Okekele in Ilorin East Local Government Area of the state.
He said the “state governor is passionate about lifting this place to an enviable standard for enterprise and tourism. We have demonstrated to you that our government keeps promises. That was the reason for including your members in our list of beneficiaries when we disbursed the micro-grants.
“We are here again to reassure you of the commitment of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to making life more meaningful and bring modern technology into your trade for you to be part of the new global trend.
“Your requests are receiving attention and the governor is committed to everything as contained in his Community-driven Rural Development (CDRD) agenda. I know you have about 300 members, please group yourself into smaller entities, we shall be back to inform you on the way forward,” Oyin-Zubair told the potters on Monday.
Speaking earlier, Raliat Saka, the leader of the women potters requested the introduction of machines at the centre to enhance production and aesthetics.
“Our children are vast in this art but they are not willing to do it this way, if they see technological advances in what we do, they will return home to do it better.
“We want to be part of the various interventions government will be giving in future, we have never benefitted any form of financial support except the last micro-grants you extended to us about three weeks ago. They have used our names to rake in funds in the past. We pray that the governor and you will continue to record more successes.
“We are willing to be grouped into governable societies like a cooperative to access funds and we shall be diligent to pay back. We need comfort stations as well,” the leader of the potters.
Source: BusinessDay NG
