INVESTJIGAWA HOSTS TWO LINKAGE SESSIONS ON ACCESS TO CREDIT BETWEEN MSMES AND NAIC AND NIRSAL

Follow-up to the second session on access to credit held on 4^th November 2024, InvestJigawa has organised two linkage sessions with Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) and Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk sharing for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL). Held on Wednesday 27^th November 2024, both sessions were attended mainly by representatives from various private sector associations, including; Jigawa Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (JICCIMA), Nigeria Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprise (NASME), and Jigawa State Marketers Association (JISMA). Prominent business owners in the State were also present. 

During meeting with NAIC, the state manager Ibrahim Dikko explained the critical role their organization is playing in providing insurance cover across the agricultural value chain. This includes protection against natural hazards and other unforeseen eventualities. He explained the core mandates of NAIC, existing policies and products, application process and eligibility requirements.

The second session was facilitated by the Dutse Branch Manager NIRSAL, Sani Adamu, who presented a detailed explanation of the existing seven (7) commercial products available in the bank – the categories of the facilities and requirements were adequately explained. He also stressed that the facilities offered by NIRSAL attract the lowest interest rates compared to other commercial banks. Participants raised various concerns, questions, observations, and suggestions, while the financial institutions provided clarifications and additional information to address all the issues raised. There was also networking between the participants for further collaboration.