Sun Sep 15 16:41:06 UTC 2024: ## Federal Government Urges Traders to Embrace Technology for Business Growth

**Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State -** The Federal Government has encouraged market traders to embrace technology and innovate in order to grow their businesses. This call was made by the Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, during the inauguration of the State and Local Government chapter executives of the National Union of Market Traders Employers of Nigeria (NUMTEN).

“Marketplaces should not only be spaces of traditional commerce, but hubs of innovation where traders can leverage technology to grow their businesses,” said Onyejeocha, represented by the State Controller of Labour, Mrs Grace Adeyeye.

The minister highlighted the government’s commitment to supporting the informal sector, particularly market traders, by creating policies that make it easier for them to do business. She also emphasized the government’s intention to improve working conditions for traders across the country.

Onyejeocha pledged the Ministry’s collaboration with NUMTEN to provide skills development, financial empowerment, and other support to its members, aiming to make them significant contributors to the nation’s economy.

NUMTEN National president, Ogu Chukwuma, stated the union’s goal is to alleviate the hardships faced by Nigerian traders and employers. He also expressed the union’s willingness to assist the government in reducing the high cost of goods in markets.

The NUMTEN Chairman in Ekiti, Morakinyo Akintayo, revealed that the union has already begun compiling a comprehensive database of all markets in the state, and plans are underway to provide loans and grants to traders.

The Federal Government’s call for technological innovation and the union’s commitment to supporting traders underscores the importance of fostering growth and prosperity in Nigeria’s informal sector.

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