By Kehinde Adeoye
Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has assured Nigerians of better living condition, as he inaugurated the Fashion and Design Shared Facility with 200 garment production equipment in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
The Vice President, who, on Tuesday, unveiled the 29th National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Clinic in Imo under the National MSMEs Clinic Scheme, said that the shared facility inaugurated comprised about 200 world class both manual and fully automated fashion equipment with a capacity to service 350 MSMEs daily and 110,000 yearly.
He said that MSMEs were a priority for Federal Government because they were the engine of growth for the economy and accounted for almost half of national income and three quarters of jobs.
“Given our determination to support our countrymen and women who run small businesses, we have held MSME Clinics in at least 28 states.
“The MSME clinic is an opportunity for small businesses to meet with regulatory agencies such as NAFDAC, CAC, SON, SMEDAN, BOI among others.
“In the course of running the clinics, we noticed that in addition to their requests for a friendlier regulatory environment, MSMEs also wanted to be supported in terms of production facilities which were lacking or costly.
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“This is how we came up with the idea of supporting MSMEs by providing at least one Shared Facility in every state of the federation.’’
Speaking on the need for Nigerians to support the Federal government in a bid to make good livelihood achievable, Osinbajo said: “We should stand with the Federal government to achieve these objectives and do our best to ensure peace.”
On the commissioning of the shared facility, Osinbajo said the facility is the first of it’s kind in Nigeria, as he said: “The facility commissioned today is the first to be commissioned in the country, and is specifically located at one of the most important markets. It has a well equipped facility for the shared use of those who are involved in the production of various garment wears and clothing items.”
Commending his host, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodima, Osinbajo appreciated him for striving to improve the well being of his people. He also commended him for working in partnership with the Federal Government for the sole purpose of progress.
He said “Governor Uzodinma is an excellent example of the way the state governor should work with the Federal Government.
“The Federal Government and Federal Resources belong to all Nigerians. Each state should seek partnership with the Federal Government to better the fortune of their own people.
“A state can only provide opportunities for its people if it runs on modern infrastructure, this aligns with the President’s belief that the building of roads and rails is important to economic development.
Earlier in his address, Governor Uzodinma, said that the inauguration of the Fashion Shared Facility for MSMEs was a salutary signpost for the shared prosperity agenda of the administration.
“This is why I can never thank President Muhammadu Buhari and his team enough for the creative enterprise expressed in this MSMEs Scheme.
“We sincerely appreciate the Federal Government for always being there for Imo State,’’ he said.
The governor also lauded the vice president for unveiling the MSMEs Clinic in the state.
In her remarks, Ambassador Maryam Katagum, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, said that the MSMEs Clinics, had since inception in 2017, served as an auspicious forum for increasing government relationship with key stakeholders in the MSMEs sector.
“This laudable initiative was purposely designed to reduce bottlenecks and provide practical and immediate responses to challenges faced by businesses,’’ she said.
