By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria has promised to provide a conducive 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 Hub in Makurdi, Benue.
He expressed confidence that the hub would match global standards, with the potential to create 48,000 jobs annually.
Mr Shettima said the speed with which the hub was built after the MSMEs Clinic was launched in the state earlier this year indicated that promises made by President Bola Tinubu to entrepreneurs were not mere rhetorics.
“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 government are born out of strong intergovernmental partnerships.
“We are delighted to witness the coming to fruition of these projects, and I am honoured 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 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, it will also house a one-stop shop where MSMEs can engage directly with Federal Government agencies to resolve their regulatory issues,” he said.
The VP said the one-stop shop would ensure that businesses requiring support or services from some agencies could be attended to under one roof.
He expressed the Federal Government’s readiness to partner with state governments and continue to create opportunities to meet the country’s demands.
He noted that MSMEs were the lifeline of communities across the nation, adding that they were the bedrock of stability at a critical phase of the nation’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 to establish a fashion and MSME hub in the state.
“The project represents more than just an infrastructure; it is an embodiment of our collective vision for a prosperous, creative and empowered Benue State.
“Your 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 your initiative and a gift to the state, is a cornerstone of our administration’s agenda to promote creativity, foster innovation, create employment and provide opportunity for our people,” said Mr Alia.
Mr Joseph Utsev, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and Shettima for their love for Nigerians.
He applauded them for fulfilling their campaign promises, which would make life meaningful for Nigerians.
Mr Adekunle-Johnson, Senior Special Assistant to the President on MSMEs, said under the Tinubu administration, five projects had so far been inaugurated.
He said eight ongoing projects would be inaugurated before the end of 2024.
The SSA also stressed that the Benue Fashion and ICT Hub was the biggest and could expand.
Dipo Olowookere 
Modupe Gbadeyanka