By Admin
The National Leaders of the Builders, Construction and Skilled Artisans of Nigeria (BACSAAN), and Officials of the Bank of Industry (BOI) have met in Abuja on how to explore available opportunities to boost economic empowerment of Nigerian artisans.
The BACSAAN team was led by its National President, Haj Fasasi Mohammed Jamiu, while the Bank of Industry officials was led by Mr. Ahmed Kagara, who represented the BOI Managing Director, Dr. Olasupo Olusi.on Wednesday.
The meeting followed a request by BACSAAN National Leaders request for a courtesy visit and interactive meeting the Managing Director of the Bank on ways to create more means for artisans to benefit from the services of the bank.
Speaking during the visit, Alh. Fasasi commended the current leadership of BOI for its innovative approach to Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic stability.
The BACSAAN Leader urged BOI management to create more ways to directly assist the teeming artisan members of BACSAAN, most of whom, he noted, were very skilled, hardworking, but remained downtrodden.
He said that a helping hand from the Bank of Industry in terms of possible very soft loans or outright intervention grants to BACSAAN members across the country would help lift the artisans out of poverty level.
Fasasi disclosed that economic empowerment of BACSAAN members would impact effectively on the country as the artisans reside in all nook and cranny of Nigeria, making them a formidable segment of the nation’s productive population.
He said that verified survey by BACSAAN showed that the association currently has potential members of over 25 million skilled artisans across the country who were all hopeful of assistance from institutions like BOI.
Fasasi urged BOI to take the issue of economic empowerment support to the artisans as a priority which would further enhance their goodwill for the bank, and infact, also for President Tinubu’s administration.
Responding, the BOI Managing Director’s representative, Mr. Ahmed Kagara welcomed the BACSAAN delegation and assured that BOI remained committed to supporting the growth of both the big and small scale.
Kagara, who disclosed that the BOI has been existing since 1964 and merely changed name in 2001, said that the Bank would be willing to assist the artisans.
He urged the BACSAAN leaders to encourage the artisans to key into the existing financial support openings in the bank by apply for such assistance through the branch of BOI nearest to them.
Kagara stated that though, BOI ”is not a charity organisation ” the bank was always willing to assist applicants to become successful by giving them all available facilities.
Yakubu Daniel
BACSAAN Media Office
