—- flags off MSME clinics
The Federal Government on Tuesday announced that it will within the next 90 days establish a world-class fashion hub in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, for use by small businesses in the tailoring cluster of the state.
Vice President Kashim Shettima who disclosed this while launching the first expanded National Macro And Small Medium Enterprises (MSME) clinics, said, the indicative is part of President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to promote the development of small businesses across the country, with the view to growing the nation’s economy.
“Mr. President: His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed, has unveiled the plan to establish a world-class fashion hub in Makurdi for use by small businesses in the tailoring cluster in the state. This hub will be ready in 90 days,” Shettima told an exciting mammoth crowd at the IBB square.
According to the Vice President, the MSME clinics are turning points in the government’s quest to guarantee the ease of doing business.
Vice President Shettima also disclosed that the Federal Government currently has in place a N75 billion, 9 percent single-digit loan from the Bank of Industry (BOI) and additional Access Bank N50 billion of their fund available to MSMEs at a discounted rate of 15 percent, said, these facilities could significantly increase based on loan performance.
“There’s a reason we are holding this expanded National MSME Clinics, the first of its kind by this administration, in this beautiful state. It’s to recognise the role Benue State has played in offering the nation a means of trade and a vehicle for driving the MSME subsector towards our objective,” Shettima added.
The Vice President also announced to the crowd that he was proud to identify himself as son of Benue. He said President Tinubu himself was another son of the State.
The Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, in his remarks at the event, thanked the Vice President and President Tinubu for considering the State as the first point to flag off the expanded programme.
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Governor Alia who explained that this was the first time that Benue state will be participating in the programme, noted that the people of the State do not take the privileged for granted as could be seen in the mobilization for the event.
“We are committed to provide a fair playing ground for every business. We have a law now that prohibits what is known as matching grant- an illegal task that inhibits the free operation of businesses,” Alia said.
The Governor told Vice President Shettima that Benue will continue to be an effective collaborator with the administration of President Tinubu as the State is fully aligned to the center.
Vice President Shettima was thereafter accompanied to one of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps located along the Joseph Saawuan Tarkar University in Makurdi, by Governor Alia, to see for himself, the plight of several farmers who have since been displaced as a result of the herders/farmers conflict in the State.
Prominent among personalities who witnessed the MSME clinic launch were minority leader of the Senate, Senator Aba Moro, the minister of Water Resources Professor Joseph Ustev, Engineer Banaba Gemade and other members of the National Assembly.
