By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
The Federal Government on Tuesday announced a N150,000 cash reward for every exhibitor at the 2nd edition of the national Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) clinic.
A grant of N100,000 will also be given to over 200 owners of new stores at the Modern Adire Shared Facility at the Adire International Market, Asero, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima made this known while addressing SMEs operators, including artisans and traders at the June 12 Cultural Centre Kuto Abeokuta at the 2nd Extended National MSME Clinics.
Senator Shettima who described Ogun State as the “industrial powerhouse of Nigeria,” said the national Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) clinic would serve as a bridge between the people and the government, adding that the clinics would serve as lifelines for enterprises in the state and the country as a whole.
The national MSME clinic serves as a bridge between the people and the government, it is our desire to bring the government in close proximity with the people by placing all regulatory agencies under one group.
He said: “Each exhibitor present at the clinic today stands to gain from our MSME instant grant of N150,000 each, courtesy of our esteemed private sector and His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“I hereby announce that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed that almost 200 new applications within this market be granted free of charge to small business traders for one year and each of them should enjoy a grant of N100,000.”
Senator Shettima noted that Ogun State is not only the industrial powerhouse of the nation but a committed supporter of the federal government’s efforts to support enterprises and empowerment.
As the keeper of its words, the federal government has transversed the length and breadth of the country to fulfill its pledge to the people across diverse sectors, he said.
He said his coming to Ogun State signifies the need to support businesses and transform ideas into commercially viable ventures, saying the 2nd phase of the Expanded SMSME Clinics is a strategic intervention to fortify the foundation of small businesses, which commenced in Benue State early this year.
“The clinics serve as a link between the people and government. Small Businesses are now afforded platforms to present their business challenges, and seek timely intervention of monetary agencies all in an attempt to eliminate the task of navigating from one agency to another in their efforts to build the next unicorn out of Africa,” Shettima said.
The Vice President emphasized that the clinics would serve as a lifeline for enterprises as it would offer immediate financial support to the exhibitors and provide small businesses the opportunity to register with the Corporate Affairs Commission and get their Certificates within a day.
Senator Shettima thanked Ogun State and the governor for their support to the federal government to bring the nation’s economy back on track.
Also speaking, the host governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, said his administration has launched the Small and Medium Enterprises Industrial Land Acquisition Scheme (SILAS), stating that the scheme is a 1,000 Hectares Industrial hub provided with needed amenities like good roads, power, among others.
“The SME park is aimed at providing incentives to SMEs way below the market rate. There will be many incentives through industrial ownership and accelerated processing of their CoO which can be used as collateral for further financing.
“Other benefits of the park will include rebates on taxes and levies such as Land Use charges, building permits, land processing fees, etc. This park will cover agro-allied, agro-processing, home and personal care building materials and chemicals, food processing,” the governor said.
To support the federal government in repositioning the nation’s economy, Governor Abiodun said the State would offer incentives like conditional grants of N100,000 to 10,000 MSMSE, N500,000 given to 2,000 SMEs, and N50,000 to 5,000 market women in the State.
Special Adviser to the Vice President on Small and Medium Enterprises, Mr. Tola Adekunle Johnson, acknowledged the working relationship between the federal and the state governments, staying at the clinics was a means to create jobs for the people, especially the youth, naming Ogun and Benue as the two states to benefit from the programme so far.
In his welcome address, the state Commissioner for Industry, Trade, and Investment, Mr. Adebola Sofela, maintained that the clinics were meant to address the challenges facing small and medium enterprises in the state to find solutions to them, calling on participants to leverage on the various issues that would be treated to grow their businesses.
The Vice President had earlier commissioned the Modern Adire Shared Facility at Adire International Market Asero and the National MSME Clinics, Ultra-Modern Fashion Hub, Ajebo Road all in Abeokuta
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