On Tuesday Vice President Kashim Shettima announced a N150,000 grant for a single MSME in Jigawa as part of its ongoing efforts to support small businesses in the state. The grant was unveiled by Vice President Kashim Shettima during the inauguration ceremony of the fourth edition of the Expanded National MSME Clinic in Dutse.
The clinic is one of the Federal Government’s strategies to facilitate ease of doing business in Nigeria. This will be achieved through a series of business forums organized across the country to provide localized solutions to challenges faced by MSMEs.
The first, second, and third editions were launched in Benue, Ogun, and Ekiti respectively earlier this year.
Shettima reiterated the Federal Government’s support for MSMEs, noting that the N150,000 “is a direct grant that does not need to be repaid by the beneficiaries.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mandated that a grant of N150,000 each be awarded to outstanding exhibiting MSMEs at today’s event. Rest assured that this is an outright grant, and the beneficiaries will not need to repay it,” stated the vice president.
Shettima noted that the SME sub-sector is the bedrock of the national economy and remains a top priority for Mr Tinubu’s government.
He said that SMEs account for 96 percent of all businesses in Nigeria and contribute over 45 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Shettima added that SMEs provide a vital lifeline for 80 percent of the country’s workforce.
“We recognize your essence, and that’s why we are establishing MSME clinics across the nation. These clinics will act as incubators for small businesses and offer alternative financing. They will also ensure that you have the support and resources you need to compete and thrive,” he noted.
The Vice President noted that a thriving SME is a thriving Nigeria and a decline in SMEs is a decline in Nigeria.
Shettima urged business owners not to fear, assuring them that the Tinubu government would not rest until everyone “is well positioned to access the support and capital available to them”.
Governor Umar Namadi expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for providing democratic dividends to the people of the state through the MSME clinics and similar projects across the territory.
Namadi urged existing and aspiring small business owners in the state to avail the services of the clinic. He described the initiative as a valuable opportunity for business owners in the Jigawa sector.
He noted that the Jigawa government is on board with the Federal Government’s New Hope Agenda along with the Greater Jigawa Initiative which provides social security services and projects to its citizens.
