The federal government has announced plans to establish a world class fashion hub in Makurdi the Benue State capital for use by small businesses in the tailoring cluster in the state within 90 days.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who announced this in Makurdi during the flag off of the National Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Clinic in the state, said the National Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) programme was one of his initiatives for job creation for Nigerians.
Represented by his Vice, Senator Kashim Shettima, the president described the state as the most endowed state in the federation in terms of fertile land. And pointed out that Benue has no reason being a poor state.
According to the president, the reason for holding the first expanded National Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Clinic in the state was in recognition of the role the people played in offering the nation a means of trade and a vehicle for driving the MSMEs sub-sector.
He called for peace and unity of purpose among leaders and elites in the state in order to harness its full potential to bring development.
The president commended people of the state for their hard work, excellence in arts, creativity, agriculture as well as commerce. He added that the reputation and diligent efforts of everybody in Benue was such an inspiration for the nation.
He congratulated Governor Hyacinth Alia on his recent victory at the Supreme Court and for also hosting the first National MSMEs clinic and urged the people to seize the opportunity and forge a path for posterity and leverage on the resources at their disposal to create a thriving ecosystem for the success of their micro small and medium enterprises.
Earlier in his address, the state Governor, Rev Father Dr Hyacinth Alia, said his administration was working round the clock to create an enabling environment for all businesses in the state to thrive.
Governor Alia who described Benue as a state with numerous talents and different entrepreneurship skills, added that his administration was committed to enhancing welfare of the state through judicious use of available resources.
He said the government and people of the state have not taken the MSMEs initiative for granted, especially as it was happening in the state for the first time. They appreciated President Tinubu and his Vice, Sen. Shettima for flagging-off the programme in the state.
The governor who enumerated some of the challenges facing small scale businesses in the state to include insecurity, difficulty in securing business licenses and lack of loan facilities, called on the federal government to sustain collaboration with the state in this regard.
While appreciating the president for the donation of a 250 kva solar at the Benue State University through the Office of the Vice President, the governor said the state will continue to key into the renewed hope agenda for more of such supports.
