By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria has promised to provide an enabling business and regulatory environment for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to thrive in the country.
The Vice President, Mr. Kashim Shettima, represented by Mr. Ibrahim Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, gave the assurance at the inauguration of the Ultra-Modern MSME Fashion Clinic and ICT Centre in Makurdi, Benue.
He expressed confidence that the centre would meet world standards, with the potential to create 48,000 jobs a year.
Mr Shettima said the speed with which the centre was built after the MSME Clinic was launched in the state earlier this year indicated that the promises made by President Bola Tinubu to entrepreneurs were not mere rhetoric.
“Today, by launching this dual-purpose SME Clinic, we bear witness to two fundamental truths. First, it demonstrates that our promises to entrepreneurs are not mere rhetoric.
“Second, it affirms that the most lasting interventions we can achieve as a government are born from strong intergovernmental alliances.
“We are delighted to witness the materialization of these projects and I am honored to be part of this milestone,” he said.
He noted that the Benue MSME Hub was one of the largest ever inaugurated by the Federal Government.
“With over 200 state-of-the-art equipment to support fashion manufacturing and over 100 ICT devices in the cluster, this centre can scale up production, provide ICT training and achieve economies of scale.
“It is equipped to produce a wide range of fashion items including military uniforms, school uniforms and corporate wear, both for Benue State and elsewhere.
“In addition to providing this cluster, it will also host a one-stop shop where MSMEs can directly interact with Federal Government agencies to resolve their regulatory issues,” he said.
The vice president said the one-stop shop would ensure that businesses requiring support or services from several agencies could be served under one roof.
He expressed the Federal Government’s willingness to collaborate with state governments and continue generating opportunities to meet the country’s demands.
He noted that MSMEs were the lifeline of communities across the country, adding that they were the foundation of stability at a critical phase of the country’s economic transition.
“It will be impossible to grow the Nigerian economy if the growth and success of MSMEs do not remain a top priority,” he said on behalf of Mr. Shettima.
On his part, Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State thanked the Federal Government and the Vice President for fulfilling the promise of establishing a fashion and MSME hub in the state.
“The project represents more than just infrastructure; it is the embodiment of our collective vision of a prosperous, creative and empowered Benue State.
“His visit to Benue State, for the second time in less than six months, is a testament to the partnership between Benue State and the Federal Government, and we deeply appreciate it.
“The Benue State Fashion Hub, which is his initiative and a gift to the state, is a cornerstone of our administration’s agenda to promote creativity, foster innovation, create jobs and provide opportunities for our people,” Mr. Alia said.
Mr. Joseph Utsev, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, also expressed his appreciation to President Tinubu and Shettima for their love for Nigerians.
He applauded them for fulfilling their campaign promises, which would give meaning to the lives of Nigerians.
Mr Adekunle-Johnson, Senior Special Assistant to the President on MSMEs, said that under the Tinubu administration, five projects had so far been inaugurated.
He said eight ongoing projects will be inaugurated before the end of 2024.
The SSA also highlighted that the Benue Fashion and ICT Hub was the largest and could be expanded.