Press Release

MSME CLINIC: BEGINNING WITH ABA IS A PERFECT DECISION - Ikpeazu tells Osibanjo, others

Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has expressed gratitude to the Federal Government of Nigeria for the confirmation of his position that Aba, the Commercial Nerve Centre of Eastern Nigeria, is the national Capital of Small and Medium Scale Enterprise in Nigeria.

Governor Ikpeazu said this when he joined the Acting President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osibanjo, and other top government functionaries at the media launch of the Federal Government's Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Clinic, (MSME Clinic) in Abuja.

Prof. Osinbajo is slated to be in Aba, the Enyimba City and the SME capital of Nigeria on Thursday for the launching of the MSME clinic.

Speaking at the Aso Rock event today, Governor Ikpeazu, who doubles as the Chief Promoter of Made-in-Aba Products, commended the FG for doing the right thing by beginning the novel MSME Clinic at Aba.

He said that the decision has confirmed that Aba is truly, the SME capital of Nigeria and called on the Federal Government to further support small and medium scale enterprises by urgently fixing Port Harcourt road Aba and Aba-Ikot Ekpene Highway in the commercial city of Aba.

He highlighted the potentials of MSME to support economic growth, create jobs, get the country out of recession and add significantly to national GDP.

Govenror Ikpeazu told the Acting President and other participants at the event that his government had earlier identified MSME as a major engine of economic revival.

He also informed his audience that his focused efforts at dealing with the infrastructural challenges at Aba, the MSME capital of Nigeria, is based on his conviction that a robust MSME can lead to massive wealth creation when properly incubated and supported.

He highlighted the MSME potentials of Aba, especially the leather and garment industry and thanked the Federal government for choosing Aba as the location for the maiden outing of the program.

He also took time to highlight some of the achievements of his administration at Aba including the ongoing work at Faulks road and the Osisioma interchange, that was recently flagged off.

Enyinnaya Appolos
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

www.abiaonline.com

lalasticlala are you aware that Mr President Prof Yomi Osinbanjo is coming here?

VICE PRESIDENT YEMI OSINBAJO'S VISIT TO ABIA STATE: Huge gain to Business Owners.

By Ikechukwu Iroha

#AbiaOnline

Practically, Federal Government has thrown its weight behind local content patronage and the campaign for made in Aba products.

Dr. Ikpeazu’s effort at diversifying the state’s economy through his various vigorous campaigns of bringing the Made in Aba products to the global attention is a commitment that has shown his readiness to leave a foot print in the sands of time.

Abia State has great potentials and comparative advantage in the area of Leather making, Garments, Fabrications etc while also exploring opportunities in other areas.

It could be recalled that the progress made in the area of SMEs attracted the attention of the Nigeria military which resulted to a contract patronage for the production of 50,000 military boots.

Among other investors who have developed interest in what is going on in Abia State, Abians in Diaspora also placed order for Aba made shoes to be distributed to school children through Mr Chinenye Nwaogu, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Job Creation and Youth Development. This iss unprecedented.

These efforts and reportage have not gone unnoticed worldwide.

For the records, Ariaria international market has a number of over 50,000 combined artisans in different fields ;Garment makers, Leather makers, Shoe makers across the state. There are several of such hubs across the state.

Dr Ikpeazu sponsored some artisans to Turkey to acquaint themselves with the types of equipment that are being used in modern day manufacturing operations. He also arranged fair financing packages to enable them acquire these equipment for enhanced quality in goods they produce.

These are some of the reasons the Federal Government cannot shy away from what is happening in Abia State.

Small businesses are defined by the amount of capital and the number of employees. Any support for SME is equally a support for the greater good of the society, considering that the drive for skill acquisition, trade and commerce is paying off in the present Nigeria where reliance on "white collar jobs" has kept many in the Labour market.

Basic presumptions underlying the desirability of nurturing small scale industries are the perceived multiplier effect which small industries have on the economy and economic growth in general.

Small Scale industries have helped the economy and the country in the areas of employment generation, poverty eradication, improved income distribution etc.

The visit by the Vice President will further assure the business community of readiness of the Federal Government to finance business ventures in the State.

The timing is key, as it coincides with the date Bank of Industry(BOI) returned to Abia after being away for over a decade, it therefore means that financing of small scale enterprises and other projects will be less cumbersome.

Protection of small businesses has been a factor militating against growth of SMEs, the visit will open ways for questions and deliberations on how to protect SMEs from unhealthy competition arising from price control.

Business owners are expected to leverage on the opportunity to discuss issues that bother on Multiple Taxation, Borrowing, Interest Rates, Foreign Exchange, Policy thrust of the Federal Government and other opportunities opened for businesses to survive in Nigeria.

The two day interactive session between SMEs and the Federal Government of Nigeria, MDAs and all relevant agencies of government with a view to creating a brand new platform to grow small businesses in Nigeria will give room for business owners to showcase their products to Nigeria and international community as all eyes will be on Abia as the SME hub of Nigeria while creating avenue to show the resilience and entrepreneurial nature of an Igbo man.

Commissioning of the one Stop Shop in Abia by the Vice President will fast tract investment in the State. It's expected that the visit will attract more investors to Abia State.

lalasticlala we shall ensure Mr Ag President enjoys his stay here