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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Vice President Kashim Shettima has commissioned the Federal Government’s ultra-modern Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Hub for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Calabar, Cross River State.
The ICT hub, housed within a newly refurbished State Library Complex, aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to supporting ventures that redefine the future of work, skills and industries in Nigeria, according to a statement by the VP’s media aide, Stanley Nkwocha.
Shettima assured of the government’s resolve to bring direct support closer to business owners through initiatives, such as the Eighth Expanded National MSME clinics held concurrently in Cross River.
He also announced a N250,000 unconditional grant to each outstanding MSME in the state to accelerate the growth of local businesses, stating: “The MSME clinics, such as the one we launched today, are designed to bring the Federal Government’s support directly to your doorstep. Here, entrepreneurs can interact with the Corporate Affairs Commission, NAFDAC, the Bank of Industry, SMEDAN, and other critical agencies. Here, challenges are met with solutions, not promises deferred.
“And because excellence must be rewarded, I am pleased to announce, on the directive of President Bola Tinubu, that each outstanding MSME exhibiting here today will receive an unconditional grant of N250,000. This is not a loan. It is a gift to accelerate your journey.”
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Concerning other government’s interventions under the Renewed Hope Agenda, Shettima outlined funds created to uplift MSMEs nationwide; a ₦75 billion MSME intervention fund administered by the Bank of Industry, a ₦50 billion presidential conditional grant scheme targeting one million nano businesses with ₦50,000 grants each, and a ₦75 billion manufacturers fund offering up to ₦1 billion in funding at favourable interest rates for manufacturers. He noted that at least one manufacturer in Cross River had already benefited from these initiatives.
“At the core of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is a commitment to create an environment where MSMEs not only survive but thrive. We are building an ecosystem that eases the struggles of our entrepreneurs, provides infrastructure that fuels creativity and unleashes the innovative spirit of our people,” Shettima declared.
In addition to the ICT Hub and MSME clinic launch, the Vice President commissioned two newly acquired Bombardier CRJ1000 regional jets; each with a 100-seat capacity, for Cally Air, the state-owned airline of Cross River. He praised Governor Bassey Otu’s leadership in infrastructure and economic development.
Otu expressed confidence in the Tinubu administration’s reforms, assuring full state support for the Federal Government’s economic agenda. He detailed ongoing efforts in Cross River to bolster tourism, rural development and industrialisation, stating, “These aircraft are more than machines; they are catalysts of commerce, bridges of culture and vessels of hope.”
Minister of Information, Alhaji Mohammed Idris commended President Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to small businesses, while the Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSME, Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, described the MSME clinics as transformative for entrepreneurs, acting as incubators for business growth and innovation.
The event was attended by senators, members of the House of Representatives, state officials and prominent leaders, who collectively affirmed the importance of MSMEs to Nigeria’s economic future and celebrated the government’s proactive role in fostering business growth.
