Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has encouraged Jaiz Bank Plc, a complete Islamic bank to venture fully into property development in the federal capital city, even as he assured that his administration would go into partnership with it for the purpose.
The minister, who received the Managing Director of the Bank in his office on Thursday, said that property development business has a lot of potential which the partnership would explore.
According to him, the partnership would make available the needed funds for the development of properties in the Territory with beneficial multiplier effects on the society.
Muhammad Bello emphasized that the collaboration would stimulate economic activities in Abuja, thereby providing skilled and unskilled employment opportunities across board.
“You have been known to be a very good important player in the property market and you know here in Abuja, the property market constitutes an important segment of economic activities.
“The FCT as you know has mandate for the entire Territory, which includes the six Area Councils. A lot of our interventions are commercial related. Some are educational or social; but whatever service we provide, the need for financial institutions like yours is always there, so we will continue to partner with you.”
The Minister said that whatever the financial institutions do in this segment of the economy, it would impacts positively on the residents of Abuja, as the FCT Administration earns revenue through such activities.
“People get employed through your activities. So, overall, there is economic development and I congratulate you for that.”
He said that the close collaboration with FCT Administration can be done through the Abuja Investment Company Limited, to leverage on what is available and by going into a very long-term arrangement for mutual development of good locations for continuous investment returns.
Speaking earlier, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Jaiz Bank Plc, Mr. Hassan Usman said that the bank has been a keen player in the socio-economic development of the Federal capital
Territory, being the only financial institution with headquarters in Abuja.
The Managing Director asked the Minister to assist the Bank with a plot of land to build its head office.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Bello, received in audience members of the Strong and Able Persons with Disabilities Association of Nigeria, (SAPDAN) during which time he gave assurance that his administration is desirous of developing entrepreneurship training programme for physically challenged persons in the Territory to make them employers of labour.
He acknowledged that white-collar jobs had become more elusive than ever before in the country, but that he would empower people to set up businesses which would employ others.
The Minister directed the Social Development Secretariat as well as the Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA) to brainstorm and come up with suitable programmes for disabled persons that would, at the end
of the day, make them contribute meaningfully in the society.
“If they are not able to give you permanent gainful employment, they could link up with you on ad-hoc basis to serve in some of the intervention committees and areas where you can do a lot
of advocacy for us and provide services that are relevant to what you have studied, not necessarily those of you who are here but even some of your other members who have other qualifications.”
He praised the determination of the disabled persons in the society, despite the enormous challenges that they have had to confront, even as he advised them not to allow their morale be dampened by such challenges.
“For most of us here, your situation is not new. We all have someone very close to us with one kind of problem or the other and they have been able to overcome the challenges and do so many things to add value to society, which even strong and able persons without disability are not able to do.” [myad]
