Delta State Micro Credit Programme is now known as “Delta State Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency.”

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, weekend, signed into law the name change and appointed the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Antonia Ashiedu, as the pioneer Executive Secretary of the agency.

Uduaghan commended the effort of the programme office operation headed by Ashiedu, pointing out that the programme has benefited the people of the state.

Ashiedu holds a Doctorate Degree in Political Science with bias for International Relations and Development Finance.

She has served on Committees on Poverty Alleviation issues, with different multilateral agencies. She was a Member of the Committee that prepared the National Poverty Alleviation Policy for Nigeria in 1997. She was appointed Consultant to Delta State Government, Nigeria, to prepare a blueprint and conduct a Baseline Study for the Micro-Credit Programme for the twenty five Local Government Areas in 2004.

Dr. Antonia Ashiedu is an alumnus of University of Ibadan, University of Lagos , University of Abuja, Oxford University, United Kingdom, Harvard Kennedy School , United States of America and London School of Economics in United Kingdom.

She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Industry Micro Finance Bank.