FG expends N1.2bn on SMEs in Gombe – Osinbajo

The federal government says it has spent over N1.2 billion to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Gombe State under its Economic Sustainability Plan.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo disclosed this, yesterday, in Gombe during the launch of the 27th edition of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Clinic, an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment to support young entrepreneurs.

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He said about 9,085 people from over 2000 SMEs in the educational sector and over 10,000 artisans and transporters had benefitted under the scheme with 6000 new business names registered free with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

According to him, the federal government will continue to support young men and women entrepreneurs, and advised small businesses to take full advantage of the SMEs clinics.

“The MSMEs are also expected to use this occasion to bring up their challenges and problems for possible solutions. It is through this symbiotic process that we will be fulfilling the key purposes for the organisation of the MSME clinics,” he said.

On his part, Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya commended Prof. Osinbajo for his commitment to the advancement of MSMEs through the various initiatives aimed at promoting the socio-economic development of the country.

According to him, since coming to office, this administration has been working to lay a solid foundation for industrial development of the state with specific focus on MSMEs.

Governor Yahaya added that the recently launched 10-year Development Agenda of the state has identified the MSME subsector as an important driver of economic and social advancement.

“With the plan to set up the Dadin Kowa industrial park, coupled with our enormous potentials in hydropower, oil and gas, irrigation agriculture and solid minerals, Gombe State is on track to become the industrial hub of the North-East sub-region,” Yahaya said.