Federal Government on Tuesday extended N150,000 grants to exceptional Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises in Jigawa.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the announcement was made by Vice-President Kashim Shettima during the launch of the 4th edition of the Expanded National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Clinic, held in Dutse, Jigawa.
The Expanded National MSME Clinics are part of the federal government’s strategy to enhance the ease of doing business in Nigeria.
This initiative involves a series of business forums across the country, designed to offer immediate solutions to challenges faced by MSMEs.
Previously, the first three editions of the clinics were inaugurated earlier in 2024 in Benue, Ogun, and Ekiti States.
During the event, Shettima emphasized the federal government’s commitment to supporting MSMEs, stating, “I am pleased to announce that His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has mandated that a grant of N150,000 each be awarded to outstanding exhibiting MSMEs at today’s event. Rest assured that this is an outright grant, and the beneficiaries will not need to repay it.”
Shettima highlighted the critical role of MSMEs in Nigeria’s economy, noting that they constitute 96 percent of all businesses and contribute over 45 percent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.
He further remarked, “We recognise your essence, and that’s why we are establishing MSME clinics across the nation. These clinics will act as incubators for small businesses and offer alternative financing. They will also ensure that you have the support and resources you need to compete and thrive.”
He added that the prosperity of small businesses is integral to Nigeria’s prosperity, and their decline impacts the nation as a whole.
Shettima reassured business owners that the Tinubu administration is committed to helping them access the support and capital available.
The State Governor, Umar Namadi, expressed gratitude to the federal government for its efforts in providing benefits through the MSME Clinics and other projects in Jigawa.
He encouraged current and aspiring business owners in the state to leverage the resources available through these clinics and praised the initiative as a significant opportunity for local operators.
The event, held at the Malam Aminu Kano Triangle, featured an inspection of exhibition pavilions by local MSMEs and the commissioning of the Jigawa Retail Empowerment Shops. In addition to the MSME Clinic launch, Shettima inaugurated a 10-hectare solar-powered irrigation farm at Sumore Farm in Madobi, commissioned 1,435 J-AGRO Agricultural Extension Agents, and distributed agricultural inputs under the NG-CARES Fadama Programme, benefiting over 26,000 individuals, including 30 percent women.
Shettima also launched the Palliative Shop initiative at Yalwawa and visited the Dutse Ultra Modern market, where he commissioned a 120KVA Solar Plant. This solar unit is expected to provide at least eight hours of electricity per day during market hours.
