Artisans in Jigawa State have called on the government and financial institutions to improve access to soft loans, saying affordable financing is crucial for business expansion, job creation and local content development.
Artisans in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, have appealed to the government and financial institutions to improve access to soft loans, saying affordable financing is essential for expanding businesses, acquiring modern equipment and creating more employment opportunities.
The artisans, who spoke in separate interviews on Saturday, said limited access to affordable credit remains one of the biggest obstacles to the growth of small and medium-scale enterprises.
A welder, Musa Ibrahim, said many skilled artisans have the expertise to grow their businesses but lack the financial resources needed to purchase modern tools and machinery.
According to him, most commercial loans attract high interest rates and stringent conditions that make them inaccessible to small business owners.
“If we have access to soft loans with flexible repayment terms, many of us will be able to expand our workshops, employ more apprentices and improve the quality of our services,” Ibrahim said.
A carpenter, Sani Abdullahi, also stressed that affordable financing would enable artisans to increase production and meet the growing demand for locally manufactured products.
He noted that the rising cost of raw materials has made it increasingly difficult for many artisans to sustain their businesses without external financial support.
“Many of us rely on personal savings to run our businesses. With soft loans, we can purchase materials in bulk, reduce production costs and increase our profits,” he said.
A fashion designer, Amina Bello, said inadequate access to capital has forced many young entrepreneurs to abandon promising business ventures.
She urged relevant government agencies to simplify the process of accessing intervention funds designed for small and medium-scale enterprises.
According to Bello, vocational skills alone are insufficient to guarantee business success without adequate financial support.
“We have the skills and the willingness to work, but financing remains a major obstacle. Affordable loans will encourage more youths to become self-reliant instead of waiting for white-collar jobs,” she said.
Also speaking, a shoemaker, Usman Haruna, said improved financial support would enable artisans to adopt modern production techniques and become more competitive.
Haruna added that artisans also require financial literacy training to ensure proper management of loans and sustainable business growth.
He noted that better access to affordable financing would improve the quality of locally produced goods and services while creating more employment opportunities for young people.
The artisans called on governments, financial institutions and development partners to strengthen collaboration in supporting small businesses, describing the sector as a key driver of economic growth, entrepreneurship and poverty reduction.
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