The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations and Community-Based Groups in Rivers State has commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for what it described as visionary leadership and a strong commitment to the growth of small and medium-scale businesses through the Rivers State Microfinance Agency (RIMA).
The coalition described RIMA as a critical driver of inclusive economic growth in the state, noting that since 2024, the agency has disbursed a total of ₦2.346 billion to about 3,000 beneficiaries across various sectors.
The civil society groups also applauded members of the business community for voluntarily repaying nearly ₦991 million of the loans, describing the development as a clear demonstration of accountability, trust and confidence in the state government’s empowerment programmes.
According to the organisations, the repayments have strengthened RIMA’s capacity to expand its reach, enabling the agency to extend loans to over 1,300 additional beneficiaries, while hundreds more entrepreneurs remain on the waiting list.
The coalition further renewed its call for an upward review of the ₦4.5 billion Rivers State Government/Bank of Industry Matching Fund Scheme, stressing that an increase would broaden access to funding and empower more entrepreneurs across Rivers State.
