In furtherance of its sustained drive to boost Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth through non-oil sector interventions, particularly in the agricultural sector, the Federal Government on Tuesday vowed to revitalise oil palm and cocoa production in the country.
The Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, made this pledge in his remarks during the opening session 7th edition of the Expanded National Clinic of the Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) in Akure, Ondo State.
According to him, President Bola Tinubu has given a clear directive on the planting 100 million oil palm trees across the country even as the administration is set to revive the cocoa industry.
Shettima, who also spoke on the importance of the business enterprises, especially based on their job creation potential, promised that the Federal Government would not relent in its efforts to also support the MSMEs.
- Advertisement -
He said: “MSMEs account for 90 percent of jobs in this country. They are key to poverty alleviation and national prosperity. The growth of our economy must go hand in hand with the growth of small businesses.”
The Vice President disclosed that 65 MSMEs from Ondo State had accessed funds from the Federal Government’s N75 billion intervention fund, stressing that the state remained critical to the socio-economic development of the country.
Shettima charged the participants at the event to utilise the opportunity provided by the expanded national clinics in boosting their businesses.
In his speech at the forum, Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, maintained that the MSMEs remained catalysts to Nigeria’s economic growth and that supporting them aligned with the seven-point development agenda of the state government.
Similarly, Ekiti State Governor, Abiodun Oyebanji, commended the Federal Government on the MSME Clinic since no nation can develop without focusing on MSMEs, and urged Nigerians to cultivate the habit of buying locally made goods in view of the medium and long term implications for the country’s sustainable development.
In his brief remarks, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, advocated the need for stronger collaboration between the government and the private sector in boosting productivity and positioning Nigeria among the fastest growing economies globally.
