By Amos Aar
VICE President Kashim Shettima has commissioned what is claimed to be the largest fashion hub in Nigeria, domiciled in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, promising to deploy monogram machines to the facility to ensure quality and efficiency.
Represented by Senator Ibrahim Hadija, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President in the Office of the Vice President, Shettima also commissioned the refurbished Benue Printing Press, Makurdi during the visit.
The vice president explained that the Benue fashion and ICT hub, along with other such facilities across the country, represent the federal government’s intervention in trying to foster a conducive business and regulatory environment for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria to thrive as the backbone of the Nigerian economy.
According to him, “the Benue Fashion Hub is the largest ever commissioned by the federal government with over two hundred sewing machines to produce wide range of military and school uniforms” while over 70 computers have been provided for ICT training of Benue youths and beyond.
He added that the hub has the potential to create approximately forty-eight thousand (48,000) jobs per annum.
“Beyond providing this cluster, the hub will also house a one-stop shop MSMEs that can engage directly with federal government agencies to resolve regulatory issues. This one-stop shop will ensure that businesses requiring support or services from our partners such NAFDAC, Bank of Agriculture, Corporate Affairs Commission, Industrial Training Fund, Standard Organization of Nigeria, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, SMEDAN and others can be attended to under one roof,” Shettima said.
The vice president who commended Governor Alia for his commitment to the project and partnership with the federal government that made the launch possible disclosed that, the federal government has opened five MSME clinics across the country since the inception of president Bola Tinubu’s administration and thirty-one (31) more clinics will be opened with the FCT.
“We are in Benue for the second time. So, while some states are waiting for the MSME clinics, Benue has actually gone ahead to march into the second stage”, he informed.
Shettima assured of continued partnership with governor Alia’s administration for the betterment of Benue people saying, “Governor Alia is a regular visitor to the presidency and like I was telling him, every time he comes, he is coming with a demand for the people of Benue State. Your Excellency, congratulations on your commitment and your vision and passion for excellence”.
In his address, Governor Hyacinth Alia who described the fashion hub as the cornerstone of his administration to promote creativity and provide employment opportunities for Benue people expressed optimism that the project will harness the talents and transform them into thriving enterprises that will contribute tremendously to the growth of the state’s economy.
Speaking on the sidelines, Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Matthew Aboh, expressed delight that the resuscitation of the hitherto moribund Benue Printing Press would save cost and ensure secrecy of government’s documents as the government will no longer be printing outside even as he said the government had nothing frivolous to hide.
“We don’t have any intention of doing any frivolous thing but we want to do the right thing. However, there must be some level of secrecy. It will also increase the production of The Voice Newspaper because the cost will be reduced and they will be able to print more copies of The Voice Newspaper for people to read. So, it is very advantageous to us”, the commissioner acknowledged.
