2 months ago
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A business owner and Chief Servant of Quick Fixed Empire, Mrs Chinwe Ukuku, has called on the government to create an enabling environment for businesses to grow and make profit in a bid to adhere to the new minimum wage.
Ukuku who made the call while answering questions from newsmen in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, at the opening ceremony of the Quick Fixed Empire business premises explained that paying the minimum wage is not the challenge, but growing the business and finances.
She said, “Anyway, before now with all the businesses that I have, we have been paying more than the minimum wage, and we look forward to also continuing doing that.
“All we are asking is that the government should create for us enabling environment to be able to grow business and grow our finances because it all boiled down to finances. So if we spend more on powering our electricity, providing what government should provide for us, how are we going to cope?
“The issue here is not even about the minimum wage. It’s about cutting jobs. It’s about people losing jobs. So I’m using this opportunity to appeal the government that we’ve had them before now we are doing even more, that they will also come to our aid to help us to have an enabling environment for business, which will grow the business and also bring good welfare packages for our staffs.”
Giving an overview of the business, she explained that it is a conglomerate aimed at proving quick solutions to various day-to-day needs including work space, laundry, cobbling, relaxation spots among others, as well as create employment opportunities.
She enthused, “Yes, it’ll give opportunity. The numbers, I’m not sure, but it’s well over 20 people that would be working here because we have over six businesses here.
“That aside, before now, we always have the skill acquisition, where we train people and fund some of them. We’ll continue to do that. The empire is not just money making, it’s also about giving back to the society, giving back to these young people.
“So we are going to have collaborations and partnerships with some tech companies. Since the world is tech-related now, everything you’re doing is all about tech.”
Continuing, Mrs Ukuku said, “We’ll also partner with research institutes; there’s one already on board that will also help them with research programmes and all that. You know, we just have to do what we have to do to give back and make sure that the society becomes better while we await that the economy becomes good.”
Highlights of the opening ceremony were the celebration of her birthday, which coincided with the inauguration of the Quick Fixed Empire and the offering of special prayers by the General Overseer of Gateway International Church, Pastor George Izunwa.
