Osinbajo praises Ugwuanyi on free enterprise
programmes, says gov worthy of wholehearted applause for his great works
VP, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has commended Governor
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state for his administration’s unceasing cooperation
with the federal government in the advancement of the set objectives of the
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in the state and beyond.
Prof Osinbajo, who said he was “extremely
delighted” with the “kindness and warm reception” the state government always
accords him whenever he visits Enugu state, also applauded Gov. Ugwuanyi for
“the very great steps” his administration has taken in the growth and
development of the MSME programme. Osinbajo gave the commendations, during the
Enugu edition of the National MSME Clinic held at the popular Michael Okpara
Square, to underscore the progress recorded so far in entrepreneurship and MSME
development programmes of the state and federal governments, with the aim of
improving the living standard of the people, more especially the youth, women
and the less privileged. Osinbajo applauded Gov. Ugwuanyi for “the very great
steps” his administration has taken in the growth and development of the MSME
programme Source: UGC The vice president added that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s
administration “is doing very well for the MSME” and in advancing the interest
of small entrepreneurs, stressing that “the governor deserves a warm applause
for the great works he has been doing.” Prof Osinbajo, who noted that the MSME
Clinic initiative was “particularly important” to the federal government,
extended its hand of cooperation and fellowship to Gov. Ugwuanyi’s
administration, disclosing that President Buhari’s administration “is fully
committed in supporting states regardless of political or ethnic affiliations.”
He further disclosed that the federal government has “provided close to N2
trillion” for its social investment programmes, stressing that “small
businesses are the future of our country”. While reiterating the federal
government’s commitment to the growth and development of entrepreneurship and
small businesses, Prof. Osinbajo, expressed confidence that “together we will
bring the deserved prosperity, not just to the people of Enugu state, but also
to the people of Nigeria.” The Enugu edition of the National MSME Clinic held
at the popular Michael Okpara Square Source: UGC In his welcome address, Gov.
Ugwuanyi, who welcomed the vice president, his entourage and other
stakeholders, to Enugu for the event, commended President Buhari for “the
vision behind the conception of this National MSME Clinic”. Gov. Ugwuanyi said
that the programme was another laudable addition to the numerous
people-oriented initiatives the federal Government has introduced to fast track
socio-economic development and improve the welfare of the people “more
especially the youths, women and the less privileged”. The governor disclosed
that “Enugu state has indeed continued to enjoy a mutually rewarding and
strategic partnership with the federal government on several fronts,” stating
that his administration, in keeping with the vice president’s directive, had
inaugurated Enugu state council on ease of doing business aimed at promoting
business engagements. The governor said that Enugu is one of few states that
have fully implemented the programme of the CBN 220 Billion MSME Development
Fund, by funding over 2000 MSMEs, adding that the state has also “returned
about N400 million out of the first tranche of N500 million received from CBN”.
Osinbajo said the federal government has “provided close to N2 trillion” for
its social investment programmes Source: UGC According to him, “we wish also to
commend, the CBN on the “Ose Nsukka” (Nsukka Yellow Pepper) Anchor Borrowers
Program as well as other initiatives of the Bank in Enugu state. “Our
counterpart funding with the Bank of Industry (BOI) has produced over 36 SMEs
worth more than N399 million in project value. From 2015, Enugu SME Center, our
foremost enterprise development institute, has trained over 35,000 MSME owners
and aspiring entrepreneurs including women and youths; and we have empowered more
than 2400 traders with N50, 000 each through our raffle program open to all
MSMEs in 54 local markets in the state. “On the social investment scheme, our
school feeding program is doing well, and over seven thousand applicants have
benefited from Government Enterprise Empowerment Program (GEEP), otherwise
called ‘Market Moni’. Under the N-power programme, Enugu state has received and
successfully deployed over 16,000 beneficiaries to schools, farms and other
places of assignment. We are currently concluding arrangements to officially
launch the implementation of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) in six
selected local government councils. “We are thus, leveraging social investment
programs, both ours and that of the Federal Government to lift our people out
of abject poverty while devoting MSME development funds to the formation of
MSMEs that create wealth, jobs, empower people and also transform communities.
All these are anchored on our firm belief that entrepreneurship and enterprise
development are the pathways to sustainable development, employment creation
and poverty eradication. “We are happy therefore to join hands with our dear
Vice President to use the National MSME Clinic to unleash the potentials of our
private sector using MSMEs and also ensuring that the clinic remains
sustainable
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