By Chesa Chesa
Vice-President Kashim Shettima has said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is building a sustainable, enterprise-led Nigeria where Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are improving livelihoods and transforming communities through the prosperity they create.
Shettima made this known on Saturday in Abuja during the 8th National MSME Awards, where he stated that the administration’s vision is to decentralise economic opportunities so prosperity is shared equitably among Nigerians.
Represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, the Vice President said the Federal Government is deliberately building an ecosystem that nurtures innovation, provides critical infrastructure and removes barriers that have historically hindered small businesses.
He urged winners of the awards and entrepreneurs across the country to continue building sustainable businesses, assuring them of government support.
“Nigeria needs your ideas, your jobs, and your leadership. I have no doubt that the Federal Government, alongside state governments and private-sector partners, will continue to build an enterprise-led nation where creativity is rewarded, small businesses grow into conglomerates, and prosperity is shared by all,” he said.
The Vice President described MSMEs as the engine room of Nigeria’s economy, noting that they account for about 90 per cent of all businesses in the country and employ over 60 million Nigerians.
According to him, through innovation, resilience and hard work, MSMEs have continued to improve the livelihoods of citizens and uplift communities nationwide.
Shettima said one of the core pillars of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is creating an enabling environment for small businesses to thrive beyond just grants and loans.
He said the government has made significant interventions through the ₦75 billion MSME Intervention Fund and the ₦50 billion Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme.
He added that through the Development Bank of Nigeria, about ₦874 billion has been disbursed to approximately 751,000 women- and youth-led MSMEs.
He also disclosed that over ₦394.88 billion has been provided to export-oriented enterprises through Nigerian Export-Import Bank, while more than 165,000 artisans have been trained under the Skill-Up Artisans Programme.
Speaking on the book launched at the event, titled Building Nigeria, Empowering MSMEs: A Compendium of the Federal Government’s Initiatives and Interventions for Nigerian MSME Growth, Shettima said it documents the administration’s efforts in supporting MSMEs.
He described the publication as a testament to President Tinubu’s commitment to enterprise development and economic prosperity.
The Vice President also described the National MSME Awards as a key expression of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that over 50 small business owners had been recognised and rewarded in the previous seven editions.
