Vice President Kashim Shettima, has inaugurated Ultra-Modern Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Clinics Fashion and ICT Hub in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, saying it is just the beginning of greater things to come under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
He expressed confidence that the hub will match global standards, with the potential to create roughly 48,000 jobs annually in the state.
The Vice President who was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President Ibrahim Hassan-Hadeja, noted that the speed at which the hub was built after the MSMEs Clinic was launched in the state earlier this year is a clear indication that promises made by the Tinubu administration to entrepreneurs are not mere rhetoric.
He stated: ‘Today, as we commission this dual-purpose MSME Clinic, we bear witness to two critical truths. First, it proves that our promises to entrepreneurs are not mere rhetoric.
‘Secondly, it affirms that the most durable interventions we can achieve as a governme
nt are born from strong intergovernmental partnerships. We are delighted to witness the fruition of these projects, and I am honoured to be part of this milestone.’
VP Shettima explained that the Benue Fashion and ICT Hub and other hubs as well as shared facilities established across Nigeria are the Nigerian government’s intervention targeted at fostering a conducive business and regulatory environment for MSMEs in the country to thrive and prosper.
The Benue MSME Hub, according to him, is one of the largest ever unveiled by the government.
He said, ‘With over 200 pieces of cutting-edge equipment to support fashion manufacturing and more than 100 ICT devices in the cluster, this hub can ramp 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 beyond.
‘Beyond providing this cluster, the hub will also house a one-stop shop where MSMEs can en
gage directly with Federal Government agencies to resolve their regulatory issues.’
The one-stop shop, he further explained, will ensure that businesses requiring support or services from agencies can be attended to under one roof.
VP Shettima expressed the Nigerian government’s readiness to partner with state governments and its resolve to continue to create opportunities that meet the country’s demands, which he said interventions such as the MSMEs Clinic fashion and ICT hubs represent.
Lifeline
Noting that MSMEs are the lifeline of communities across the nation, he said they are the bedrock of stability at a critical phase of the nation’s economic transition in times like this, even as he said it would be ‘impossible to grow the Nigerian economy if the growth and success of MSMEs do not remain a top priority.’
The Vice President acknowledged the numerous challenges preventing the growth and prosperity of MSMEs in Nigeria, pointing out that the Tinubu administration was already providing interventions
to address the challenges.
The Vice President commended what he described as the visionary leadership of Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, and his dedicated team who, according to him, has worked tirelessly with the team from the Presidency, led by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, and other partners, to ensure swift delivery of the MSME facility hub in the country for fashion and ICT.
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr Alia, thanked the federal government and Vice President Shettima for fulfilling the promise to establish a fashion and MSME hub in the state.
He said, ‘The project represents more than just an infrastructure; it is an embodiment of our collective vision for a prosperous, creative and empowered Benue State.’
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Joseph Utsev expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for their love for Nigerians and for fulfilling their campaign promises, which
they said will make life meaningful for Nigerians.
Earlier, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, thanked the Vice President for his contributions to the development of the MSMEs in the country, saying the event underscores the commitment of the VP and his team to the industrialization of the communities in Nigeria.
Also in his remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MSMEs, Adekunle-Johnson, said it was in January this year that the idea for a fashion hub was envisioned when the Vice President launched the MSME Clinic in Benue State.
He said under the Tinubu administration, five projects have so far been inaugurated, while eight are ongoing and will be unveiled before the end of 2024.
He stressed that the Benue Fashion and ICT Hub is the biggest and can expand depending on what the state wants to add to it.
Source: Voice of Nigeria