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Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged Nigerian entrepreneurs to keep building their businesses, assuring them of government support as the administration pursues an enterprise-led economic model.
“Nigeria needs your ideas, your jobs, and your leadership,” Shettima said on Saturday at the 8th National MSME Awards in Abuja.
Represented by Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, the Vice President described small businesses as the engine room of the country, noting they account for 90 per cent of all Nigerian businesses and provide jobs for over 60 million people.
“I have no doubt that the Federal Government, along with state governments and our private-sector partners, will continue to build an enterprise-led nation where creativity is rewarded, small businesses grow into conglomerates, and prosperity is shared by all,” Shettima said.
“90 per cent of all Nigerian businesses are MSMEs. They are the largest employers of labour in this country, providing jobs for over 60 million of our people. Through bold and innovative ideas, and through sweat and courage, our MSMEs are improving the livelihoods of Nigerians and transforming our communities through the prosperity they create.”
He said the administration’s core vision is to decentralise economic opportunities so that prosperity is shared equitably among all citizens.
Shettima outlined several government interventions, including 21 state-of-the-art Shared Infrastructure Facilities that have supported the creation of 650,000 jobs.
On financial access, he said the Development Bank of Nigeria had disbursed ₦874 billion to approximately 751,000 women- and youth-led MSMEs, while the Nigerian Export-Import Bank provided over ₦394.88 billion in financing to export-oriented enterprises. Under the Skill-Up Artisans programme, over 165,000 artisans have been trained.
He stated, “We have institutionalised 21 state-of-the-art Shared Infrastructure Facilities, providing affordable access to high-speed internet, modern machinery, and collaborative spaces, from digital hubs for our tech innovators to shared production spaces for our fashion designers, and these hubs have supported the creation of 650,000 jobs.
“On the question of financial access, we have moved with deliberate force. Through the ₦75 billion MSME Intervention Fund and the ₦50 billion Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme, we have expanded the pool of capital available to our enterprises. Through the Development Bank of Nigeria, we have disbursed ₦874 billion to approximately 751,000 women- and youth-led MSMEs.
“We have provided over ₦394.88 billion in financing to export-orientated enterprises through the Nigerian Export-Import Bank. And under the Skill-Up Artisans programme, we have trained over 165,000 artisans and equipped them with the resources to flourish.”
STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
VP SHETTIMA AT 8TH MSME AWARDS:
MSMEs Are Improving Livelihoods of Nigerians, Transforming Communities Through Prosperity They Create
The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT is building a sustainable, enterprise-led Nigeria,…
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