In the fulfillment of the promises made by His excellency- Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the creation of jobs and the betterment of the nation,ultra modern MSME Clinics, Fashion & ICT Hubs have been commissioned in Makurdi, the Benue State capital of Nigeria.
Senator Kashim Shettimah, Vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria commissioned these projects, insisting that it is just the beginning of greater things to come under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
As the vice president, represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff to the President
(Office of the Vice President), Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, commissioned these projects on Tuesday. he expressed that the projects will create rooms for job opportunities in the state and match global standards.
In his words,
“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 from strong intergovernmental partnerships. We are delighted to witness the fruition of these projects, and I am honoured to be part of this milestone.”
While discussing the speed at which the hub was built after the MSMEs Clinic was launched in the state earlier on, the Vice President affirmed that it is a clear indication that promises made by the Tinubu administration to entrepreneurs are not mere rhetoric.
Also, he indicated that, these projects and other hubs established across the country are the federal Governments intervention that aims to improve the business and regulatory environment for MSMEs in the country to thrive and prosper. He identified the
Benue MSME Hub as one of the largest ever commissioned by the federal government.In his words,
“With over 200 pieces of cutting-edge equipment to support fashion manufacturing and more than 100 ICT devices in the cluster, this hub has the capacity to 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 engage directly with Federal Government agencies to resolve their regulatory issues”.
The vice president also explained that, the one-stop shop,will ensure that businesses that require support or services from agencies such as NAFDAC, BOA, CAC, ITF, SON, NEPC, SMEDAN, and others can be attended to under one roof.
In the same account, the vice president highlighted the eagerness of the Federal Government to work with the state government while continuing to create opportunities that will meet the country’s demand.
The Vice President noted that Micro, Small Medium Entreprises are the lifeline of communities across the nation as they create room for stabilising the nation’s economy especially in a critical time like now.
Hence, the growth of the Nigerian economy will be stagnant if the successes of Micro,Small , Medium Entreprises are not recorded and prioritized.
As the vice president discussed further, he recognised some of the obstacles to the growth of the Micro, Small, Medium Entreprises in Nigeria, stating that the administration of President- Bola Ahmed Tinubu was already providing remedies to them.
The Vice President observed,
“With a strong resolve to tackle these challenges, the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has provided interventions like the Benue Fashion Hub and other hubs established across the nation.
“These hubs support MSME clusters across various industries, including fashion and textiles, leather, ICT, agriculture, and cold room facilities. We look forward to establishing additional clusters for mechanic cities, printing, barber shops, shoemaking, and wellness later this year”.
The Vice President Commended the Benue State Governor -Hyacinth Iormem Alia who worked with his team to ensure the delivery of the MSMe ability hubs for fashion and ICT in the state.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs Temitola Adekunle-Johnson was commended too.
The Governor of Benue state thanked the federal Government and the Vice president. 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,”
He went further by saying that,
” The Benue State fashion hub, which is your initiative and a gift to the state, is a corner stone of our administration’s agenda to promote creativity, foster innovation, create employment and provide opportunity for our people,”
Also, the the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Joseph Utsev appreciated the president and his vice for fulfilling their promises and commissioning the projects in Benue State.
Mr. Doris Nkiruka expressed her joy as she thanked the vice president.
In her words,
” The various initiatives that your Office is anchoring have contributed positively to Nigeria’s socio-economic environment, to the development of the various sectors which is seen in the commissioning of fashion hubs today,” she stated.
Also in his remarks, the Senior Special
Assistant to the President on MSMEs, Mr. Adekunle-Johnson, said it was in January this year that the idea for a fashion hub was envisioned as the vice president launched the MSME Clinic in Benue State.
He informed that, under the Tinubu administration, five projects have so far been commissioned, eight are ongoing and will be announced before the end of 2024.
Mr. Adekunle also stated that, the projects commissioned can be built upon depending on the need of the state.
