Vice-President Kashim Shettima reiterated on Wednesday the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to poverty reduction and economic revitalisation.

Mr Shettima stated this while inaugurating the corporate headquarters of the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in Abuja.

According to him, Mr Tinubu’s administration is strategically focusing on job creation, capital accessibility, economic growth, and poverty eradication to revamp the economy.

Mr Shettima said the federal government, under Mr Tinubu’s watch, would never shift ground in its determination to protect businesses in the country.

The vice-president noted that enterprises are not only the very bedrock of a society but also reflect the direction the government is heading and the speed with which it is doing so.

“Allow me to emphasise the importance of this moment: there is no more fitting time than now to reinforce the protection of enterprises in Nigeria.

“These enterprises not only stand as the very bedrock of our society but also reflect the direction the government is headed and the velocity with which we do so.

“This moment solidifies President Bola Tinubu’s assurance to protect our enterprises. It resonates deeply with our economic revitalisation plan,” stated the vice-president.

According to him, Mr Tinubu intends to make sure businesses and other economic enterprises prosper in the country.

“Our partnership with the Bank of Industry to unveil a N75 billion, nine per cent interest loan accessible to Nigerian MSMEs as of January 2024 is a pivotal stride. This initiative is geared towards fostering a more conducive and enabling business environment.

“This government doesn’t just boast some of the nation’s finest talents; it champions those invested in ensuring our business owners have front-row seats in our journey towards progress,” added Mr Shettima.

Mr Shettima lauded the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, and the leadership of SMEDAN for the project, adding they had proven that they were ready to transform “concepts into tangible actions.

Ms Uzoka-Anite thanked the vice-president for his unwavering support of MSMEs in the country.

She said the completion and inauguration of the new SMEDAN complex was a clear demonstration of the commitment of the Tinubu administration to the development of the MSME space.

She also outlined other initiatives of the federal government targeted at building capacity and linking MSMEs to markets at home and abroad.

SMEDAN director-general Charles Odii said the agency and the entire MSME community in Nigeria had recorded significant achievements within a short period under his stewardship.

Mr Odii assured that the agency would continue to collaborate with sister organisations to ensure sustainable growth in the sector.

(NAN)