The Federal Government is set to establish a world-class fashion hub in Makurdi, Benue State, in the next 90 days.
Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed this at the inauguration of the Expanded National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Clinics in Makurdi, tagged, ‘Benue Open for Business’.
Shettima said the fashion hub would be furnished with modern equipment.
“President Bola Ahmed has unveiled the plan to establish a world-class fashion hub in Makurdi for use by small businesses in the tailoring cluster in the state.
“This hub will be ready in 90 days. We are glad that the pioneering spirit of Benue has set the stage for a transformative MSME Clinic train,” he said.
He said the project was not just a fulfilment of Tinubu’s promise of job creation and accessible capital to Nigerians, but also a homage to the unparalleled spirit of industry that defined the people of Benue,
According to the VP, Benue is a land known for commitment to hard work, excellence in art, pursuit of creativity, elevation of agriculture, and promotion of commerce.
“These stand as a testament to the remarkable productivity engraved within the core of Benue. The reputation earned by the diligent efforts of every person in this Food Basket of the Nation is a beacon of inspiration for us all, and I am honoured to join you today.”
“There is a reason we are holding this expanded National MSME Clinics, the first of its kind by this administration in this beautiful state. It is to recognise the role Benue has played in offering the nation a means of trade, and a vehicle for driving the MSME subsector towards our objective,” Shettima said.
According to him, the clinics will stand as a symbol of empowerment, a nexus where dreams would meet opportunities, where innovation thrives and where the spirit of entrepreneurship is nurtured by strategic governance.
He urged Nigerians to seize the moment to forge a path of prosperity, to leverage the resources at the country’s disposal, to create a thriving ecosystem for the growth and success of its MSMEs.
“Every business owner, whether in Makurdi or Oturkpo, Gboko or Katsina-Ala, must consider themselves a priority of this government. The extended National MSME Clinics aim to unite regulatory bodies in the MSME sub-sector with MSMEs and investors across small business clusters.
“They are also here to offer solutions to critical barriers hindering the growth of these enterprises in Nigeria. Today, I am joined by heads of esteemed agencies, all valuable partners in our commitment to job creation and supporting MSMEs.”
He said, towards this end, the Federal Government set aside N75 billion, nine per cent single-digit loan from Bank of Industry (BOI), adding that the President “is committed to resolving the bottlenecks affecting the MSME space in Nigeria, and will persist until these issues are resolved.”
