Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday inaugurated the Benue fashion and ICT hub in Makurdi.
Shettima, while inaugurating the project, said the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) remained the backbone of Nigerian economy.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Vice President, while in the State, also commissioned the Benue Printing and Publishing Cooperation.
Shettima said the Benue fashion and ICT hub facility along with other shared facilities established across the country showed the FG’S efforts at fostering a conducive business and regulatory environment for MSME in Nigeria to strive and prosper.
Represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Sen Ibrahim Hadejia, Shettima said the hub would provide approximately 48,000 jobs annually.
He said the hub was designed to provide military uniforms, school uniforms, cooperate wears among others for Benue people and beyond.
He expressed confident that the hub would meet the global standard, adding that they were planning to build additional 32 MSME hubs across the country including the FCT.
He said MSME overtime, has faced numerous challenges but the current administration was determined to tackle those challenges.
“As we all know MSME are the backbone of the Nigeria economy, accounting for 96 per cent of all Nigerian businesses and contributing over 45 per cent to our economy.
“Without them 80 per cent of Nigerians current workforce will be without jobs. Indeed MSME are the life wire of communities across the nation, providing a strong layer of stability during this critical stage of our economic transition.
“This MSME hub is one of the largest, infact, it is the largest ever commissioned by the FG with over 200 pieces of machine equipment and more than 100 ICT devices in this cluster.
“This hub has the capacity to ramp up production, provide ICT training and achieve economic steam.”he said.
In his speech, Gov. Hyacinth Alia said tthe Fashion hub was an embodiment of the State collective vision for a prosperous, creative and empowered Benue.
Alia said the Benue Fashion hub, which is the initiative of the Presidency and a gift to the State was a cornerstone of his administration’s agenda to promote creativity, foster innovation, create employment and provide opportunities for our people.
“The hub shows that we are not only expanding the labour market but also supporting the skills required because the state is blessed with abundant resources that have remained largely untapped and underutilised over the years.
“I make bold to say that the future of our dear State is not just hinged on agriculture or about producing and processing commodities, it prominently features diversification that can be anchored on industrialization, leveraging the abundant talents that are available in the state.
‘The project is designed to harness the abundant talents of our youth and transform them into thriving enterprises that will contribute significantly in building our economy,” he said.
Also, the Minister of Industries, Trade and Investment, Dr Doris Anitte, commended the Vice President for his strong commitment to industrialising the country.
Anitte said MSME has contributed significantly to the Nigeria’s socioeconomic development over the years and was the priority of the ministry.
She commended Alia for his visionary leadership and commitment to the betterment of Benue people, saying MSME was the driving force for job creation and rural industrialisation.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev commended President Bola Tinubu and Alia for ensuring that the project was completed on time.
Utsev said the facility would enhance employment and boost the economy, adding that every State in the Country should emmualte it.
Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation and MEMES, Mr Tola Adekunle, said FG was ready to support all State governments to succeed through MSME.
Adekunle, who further commeded Alia for his achievements so far, urged him to do more for the Benue people.(NAN)
