Osinbajo commends MSMEs, pledges government’s support to entrepreneurs

*The Federal Government of Nigeria assures the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise proprietors of support in addressing the challenges and bottlenecks in their operations

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Determined to resolve their identified challenges while remove bottlenecks in their operations, the Federal Government has said it is impressed with the progress made by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as regards the interventions by the Buhari administration in the country.

Vice-President (Prof.) Osinbajo, SAN, who stated this Thursday, July 1 at the 28th Edition of the National MSMEs Clinic in Dutse, Jigawa State capital, also commissioned some Jigawa State projects during the visit, according to report.

Osinbajo said the government would intensify efforts at addressing any bottlenecks and challenges facing small businesses in Nigeria, so they can grow bigger.

On arrival in Dutse for the programme, the Vice-President was welcomed by Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa and accompanied to the Clinics by the Federal House of Representative Member Hon. Hafiz Ibrahim, Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu; Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Mariam Katagum, and Mr. Segun Awolowo, Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), among other top officials.

Osinbajo told the participants shortly after a tour of the exhibition stands at the MSMEs Clinic that “after going round with His Excellency, the Governor, to see the different businesses exhibiting their products and services today, I want to further assure participants that every effort will be made to address the challenges and bottlenecks that they are facing.”

He encouraged them to “bring such issues to the attention of the MSME Clinics Secretariat to get assistance and quick responses from the relevant agencies.”

According to Osinbajo, the MSMEs Clinic is “a Federal Government initiative to work with state governments to promote and support small and medium businesses, was designed to bring regulatory agencies whose work affects the business experience of MSMEs to meet with them.

“So, the clinic gives MSMEs an opportunity to bring their business problems to the attention of regulatory agencies for solution, outside the formal and sometimes intimidating head offices of these agencies.

“MSMEs Clinics have also helped the regulatory agencies, on their part, to gain a better understanding of the difficulties that MSMEs face, and how to improve their services to help these businesses.”

He also applauded the effectiveness of the partnership between the Federal Government and States.

“Let me again commend Governor Abubakar Badaru and the entire Jigawa State Government for their massive efforts to grow the State’s economy and improve the lives of the citizens of this state.

“Clearly these efforts are bearing fruit and MSMEs in Jigawa State will be the better for it.

Please be assured that the Federal Government values your cooperation and we will continue to complement and support the work that you are doing here.”

Jigawa State continues to be pacesetter in agriculture and rural development, said the Vice-President.

Osinbajo further noted: “It is currently Nigeria’s largest producer of dates and hibiscus. The State is also the second largest producer of gum arabic and sesame seed, as it is one of the top 3 rice producing States in the country.

“But more importantly, it has proved itself to be one of the top most attractive States in Nigeria for small and medium businesses.

“Jigawa was rated number 3 out of the 36 States and Abuja in the ease of doing business rankings conducted for the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) by the international consulting firm, KPMG.”

He stated: “It is on account of the proactive stance of the Governor that we also chose to perform the National launch of the deployment of 100,000 Solar Home Systems under the Solar Power Naija Programme here in Jigawa in the Jangefe community of Roni local government in the Kazaure emirate when I visited Jigawa State in April this year.”

Governor Badaru thanked Osinbajo for his commitment to the development the country, and commended his leadership of the National Economic Council, noting that President Buhari knew the capability of the Vice-President.

The governor assured the government “that he will deliver,” adding that was why the President made him the chairman of the Economic Sustainability Programme (ESP) and recently asked him to chair the Steering Committee of the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy designed to take 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.

He thanked the VP for his support to the state, and in ensuring that various interventions of government across different sectors are successful.

Earlier on arrival at the exhibition grounds, the VP saw a display of locally made products by MSMEs in Jigawa State and environs.

During the visit to Dutse, the Vice-President also flagged off the distribution of farm inputs and equipment to 900 beneficiaries in the state and also commissioned a road project in the State capital, constructed by the State government named the new Ibrahim Aliyu bypass, which has been now been dualised.

Other dignitaries at the 28th MSME Clinic include Jigawa State Deputy Governor, Malam Umar Namadi Danmodi; Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Ambassador Adeyemi Dipeolu; Special Adviser to the President on Infrastructure, Ahmed Zakari; HRH, Emir of Kazaure, Alhaji Najeeb Hussain Adamu; HRH, Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Adamu Abubakar; HRH, Emir of Gumel, Alhaji Ahmad Muhammad Sanni; among others.

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