The Adamawa State Agribusiness Support Programme (ADASP) meets as part of process to sign a strategic collaboration with the Technology Incubation Centre (TIC) Yola, aimed at strengthening small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), enhancing innovation, and improving access to finance across key sectors of the economy.
Speaking during the strategic meeting held at the center, the Chief Operating Officer of ADASP and Lead Consultant, Alhaji Yunusa Ibrahim Gafai, said the partnership is designed to address critical challenges facing entrepreneurs. He outlined key objectives of the collaboration to include improving access to finance, integrating business operations, and establishing additional incubation centres where practical demonstrations and training for entrepreneurs will take place.
Gafai further explained that ADAS-P facilitate the support and intercoordination across four major subsectors which includes livestock, crops, aquaculture, and forestry to ensure a holistic approach to agricultural and enterprise development.
In his remarks, the Head of Component One of the ADASP Programme, Dr. Tasiu Idi, noted that the collaboration would significantly enhance value addition across the targeted sectors, thereby increasing productivity and competitiveness.
Responding, the Head of the Centre, Salihu Umar Babayi, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting and affirmed the centre’s readiness to partner with ADASP. He pledged full cooperation to ensure the successful implementation of the programme.
The initiative aligns with the vision of the administration of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, which prioritizes the growth of small and medium enterprises as a pathway to reducing unemployment and boosting internally generated revenue.
The Technology Incubation Centre (TIC), under the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), is a government-backed initiative that supports startups by providing infrastructure, mentorship, and business development services for a period of one to three years. With centres established across the 36 states of the federation, TIC plays a vital role in transforming innovative ideas into viable commercial enterprises, particularly in the manufacturing and technology sector.