Vice President Shettima Launches ICT Hub in Cross River State

 

Vice President Kashim Shettima has inaugurated a state-of-the-art Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Hub for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, alongside the newly refurbished State Library Complex housing the hub.

He also commissioned two newly acquired Bombardier CRJ1000 regional jets, each with a 100-seat capacity, for Cross River State-owned airline Cally Air.

The Vice President said the ICT hub aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s pledge to support ventures that redefine the future of work, skills, and industries in Nigeria.

VP Shettima also launched the 8th Expanded National MSME Clinics in Cross River, describing it as part of the Federal Government’s commitment to bringing support directly to businesses nationwide.

“The MSME Clinics, such as the one we launch today, are designed to bring the Federal Government’s support directly to your doorstep. Here, entrepreneurs can interact with the Corporate Affairs Commission, NAFDAC, the Bank of Industry, SMEDAN, and other critical agencies. Here, challenges are met with solutions, not promises deferred,” the Vice President explained.

He further announced the disbursement of ₦250,000 unconditional grants to outstanding business owners in Cross River State as part of ongoing MSME support.

“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,” VP Shettima added.

He highlighted other interventions by the Tinubu administration, including a ₦75 billion MSME Intervention Fund administered by the Bank of Industry, a ₦50 billion Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme targeting one million nano businesses nationwide with grants of ₦50,000 each, and a ₦75 billion Manufacturers Fund offering up to ₦1 billion loans at 9 percent interest for manufacturers.

VP Shettima noted that at least one manufacturer in Cross River State had already benefited from the Manufacturers Fund.

He emphasised that these commitments go beyond loans and grants, reflecting the government’s determination to create an environment where MSMEs thrive.

“We are here in pursuit of our promise to build an ecosystem that eases the struggles of our entrepreneurs, provides the infrastructure that fuels creativity, and unleashes the innovative spirit of our people,” he said.

Reflecting on the importance of small businesses, the Vice President said no nation can prosper beyond what its SMEs deliver.

“When His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, took charge, he did not only guarantee access to capital. He pledged to support every venture that dares to redefine the future of work, skills, and industries

“The world today is shaped by the wave of digital technology, and so the commissioning of a state-of-the-art Information, Communication and Technology Hub for MSMEs in this beautiful state could not have come at a better time

“This is our eighth stop, our 8th Expanded National MSME Clinics, and like those before it, the hub we commission today is our investment in tomorrow. We are living in a digital century where technology is no longer a luxury but a lifeline,” VP Shettima stressed.

The Vice President commended Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu for his leadership in promoting infrastructure, particularly the commissioning of the two Bombardier CRJ1000 aircrafts to boost air travel.

“This not only invites the world to the People’s Paradise but also makes it a safe destination for investments,” he said.

Governor Bassey Otu expressed confidence in the Tinubu administration’s reforms, pledging his government’s full support.

“We are keying into every facet of the administration’s efforts to build a formidable economy that will sustain and stand the test of time,” he said.

The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, praised President Tinubu’s unwavering support for small businesses through policy reforms and infrastructure provision.

He also lauded Vice President Shettima’s dedication to the MSME sector, highlighting his encouragement through clinics and related initiatives.

The Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, Mr Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, described the MSME Clinics as a unique Federal Government initiative transforming entrepreneurial ideas nationwide.

“The vision of establishing shared facilities for MSMEs across the country was prompted by the desire of the Federal Government to intentionally address key challenges confronting small businesses,” he added.

PIAK/VON

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