Date: 2016-09-03

The Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed says his government will partner Ja'iz Bank in providing infrastructural fund for contractors handling projects in the state. Governor Ahmed stated this when he received the Managing Director of the bank, Hassan Usman at the Government House, Ilorin.

According to him, the government has created an Infrastructure Development Fund (IF-K) as a funding window for all ongoing and new projects across the state on a sustainable basis. He said the IF-K would be strengthened with the support of lending institutions to give confidence to contractors handling projects in the state.

Governor Ahmed promised to support the bank in the area of disbursement to small and medium enterprises, saying that two billion naira had been made available to support SMEs through cooperative groups.

He explained that the ongoing nationwide expansion of the bank would provide a platform for those with a bias against Islamic banking system, noting that it would ensure inclusive banking in the country.

The Managing Director, Ja'iz Bank, Mallam Hassan Usman had informed the Governor that the Ilorin branch of the bank was the first to be opened after it got approval to move from a regional to a national one.

He expressed delight over the willingness of the state government to partner with the bank in providing quality services to the people. Usman said the partnership would provide a platform for SMEs financing and intervention in areas that would bring value to the state.