- Launches 8th Expanded National MSME Clinics, ICT Hub
- Disburses ₦250,000 unconditional grants to outstanding business owners
BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – Vice President Kashim Shettima has commissioned the two new Bombardier CRJ1000 regional jets acquired by the Cross River State government for its airline, Cally Air.
The aircraft’s commissioning took place on Tuesday shortly after the Vice President was received by Governor Bassey Otu at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
He was in Calabar to formally launch the 8th Expanded National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Clinics, a Federal Government initiative aimed at boosting small businesses as part of the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ for economic growth and grassroots empowerment.
Vice President Shettima also commissioned the Federal Government’s Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) hub for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the South South State.
The Vice President took to his verified Facebook page on Tuesday evening to state that the MSME Clinics were part of efforts by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to bring the Federal Government’s support directly to the doorstep of businesses across the country.
His post read thus: “Today in Calabar, I launched the 8th Expanded National MSME Clinics in Cross River State as part of efforts by the Tinubu administration to bring the Federal Government’s support directly to the doorstep of businesses across the country.
“Earlier, on arrival at the airport, I commissioned two newly acquired Bombardier CRJ1000 regional jets (100-seat capacity each) for use by the state-owned airline, Cally Air.
“I then proceeded to the State Library Complex to commission the newly refurbished facility, as well as a state-of-the-art ICT Hub for MSMEs housed within the complex.
“During the launch of the MSME Clinic, I also announced the disbursement of ₦250,000 unconditional grants each to outstanding business owners in Cross River State, as part of ongoing efforts to support MSMEs across the country.”
Besides bringing together key regulatory agencies to address challenges facing small businesses, the Expanded MSME Clinics also provides platforms for exhibitions, on-site investments, and enterprise development in five priority areas.
These are: funding, skills, infrastructure, market access, and technology.
While in Calabar, Vice President Shettima had explained that the MSME Clinics are designed in a way that entrepreneurs can interact with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), NAFDAC, the Bank of Industry, SMEDAN, and other critical agencies.
Noting that the MSME Clinics are where challenges are met with solutions, not promises deferred, he said, “And because excellence must be rewarded, I am pleased to announce, on the directive of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that each outstanding MSME exhibiting here today will receive an unconditional grant of ₦250,000. This is not a loan. It is a gift to accelerate your journey”.
Senator Shettima further mentioned other interventions of the Tinubu administration to include the creation of a N75bn MSME Intervention Fund administered by the Bank of Industry (BoI), and a N50bn Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme to support one million nano businesses across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas with grants of N50,000 each.
