By Amos Aar
THE FEDERAL Government on Tuesday flagged off the first expanded national Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) clinic in Benue State.
Performing the ceremony at the IBB Square, Makurdi, Vice President Kashim Shettima explained that the MSMEs programme is one of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s initiatives for job creation for Nigerians.
Shettima commended Benue people for being committed to hard work, being excellent in arts, creativity, agriculture and for the promotion of commerce, adding that the reputation and the diligent effort of everybody in Benue is such an inspiration for Nigerians.
He described Benue as the most endowed state in the federation in terms of fertile land, stating that Benue has no reason being a poor state.
According to the Vice President, the reason the Federal Government has decided to hold the first expanded national Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) clinic in the state was in recognition of the role the people of Benue have played in offering the nation a means of trade and a vehicle for driving the MSMEs sub-sector.
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While challenging business owners across the state to consider themselves a priority of the current administration, Shettima revealed President Tinubu’s plans to establish a world class fashion hub in Makurdi for use by small businesses in the tailoring cluster in the state, saying the hub will be ready in 90 days.
He extended the president’s congratulations to the governor and the good people of the state, over the Supreme Court victory, and for hosting the first national MSMEs clinic, urging the people to seize the moment to forge a path of posterity, leveraging the resources at their disposal to create a thriving ecosystem for the success of their micro small and medium enterprises
In his address, Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, promised to create enabling environment for all businesses in the state to thrive.
Alia, who noted that Benue was endowed with numerous talents and different entrepreneurship skills, said his administration was committed to enhancing the welfare of the state through judicious use of available resources.
He said the government and the people of the state would not take the MSMEs initiative for granted especially as it was happening in the state for the first time, appreciating President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima for the flag-off of the programme.
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The governor identified some challenges faced by small businesses such as insecurity, difficulty in securing of business licenses and lack of loan facilities with a call on the federal government to continue to collaborate with the state in this regard.
While appreciating the president for the donation of a 250kva solar at the Benue State University through the office of the vice President, the governor said the state would continue to key into the renewed hope agenda for more of such supports.
