The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has approved the biometric enumeration of traders, artisans, industrialists and members of cooperative societies in the state.
While unveiling the exercise tagged ‘Ise D’otun’ in Ibadan, the Head of Service (HoS), Mrs Olubunmi Oni, stated that the exercise would help the government ascertain the details of traders, artisans, industrialists and members of cooperative societies in the state.
She added that the exercise was geared towards enhancing the dividends of democracy, and ensuring that members of the public benefited from it.
This was according to a statement on Sunday by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade.
The HoS urged traders, artisans and other categories of people targeted in the exercise to cooperate with the state government for the collation of their data, which she noted would boost their businesses through various support opportunities from the government, stockholders and non-governmental organisations.
In his address at the event, the state Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives, Ademola Ojo, stated that having accurate data on the informal sector would enable the state government to facilitate local and international grants, loans and other supports for the traders, artisans and others.
He added that the programme would also enable traders to use their numeric strength to enjoy affordable insurance plans in the event of a fire outbreak, and also open doors for other business opportunities.