By Dipo Olowookere
Acting President, Mr Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday flagged-off the maiden edition of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Clinic in Aba, Abia State.
The event was put together by the state government to grow small businesses in the state.
Aba is known as the commercial hub of Southeast Nigeria, which has the potential of becoming Africa’s China.
While declaring the programme open, Mr Osinbajo admitted that “Aba is easily the manufacturing and small business centre for Nigeria. I knew about Aba made products when we were younger.”
Speaking further, the Acting President said, “When we say Aba made, it now means excellence. From what I have seen so far, Nigeria have great ability to do wonderful things, become creators and inventors.”
Mr Osinbajo, accompanied by the Minister of Trade, Commerce and Industry, Dr Okechukwu Enelama; and the Executive Chairman FIRS, Mr Babatunde Fowler, submitted that, “Aba exemplifies such Nigerian attribute of being inventive.”
“From the interactions I have heard with Aba business community, the issues are how to assess money and processes of registrations.
“These are some of the reasons that informed the decision to bring all the agencies together to a hub centre where these things will be discussed. It’s all about assistance on how to do it better and make it easier.
“Our focus is on local industries. Aba has what it takes to compete with what can be seen in China,” he said.
