President Bola Tinubu has said Nigerians have no reason to be poor, pledging his administration’s continued support for the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across the country.
Speaking at the 8th Expanded National MSME Clinic in Calabar on Wednesday, Tinubu — represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima — noted that Nigeria is blessed with boundless human and natural resources.
Highlighting Cross River State’s fertile land, he said the state has the capacity to grow nearly every crop.
“The Federal Government intends to plant 100 million oil palm trees — more than any other state. Cross River has an advantage,” he said.
The president recalled that on assuming office, his government prioritised access to capital and pledged to back initiatives that would reshape the future of work, skills, and industry. He commended the Cross River Government for establishing a state-of-the-art communication and technology hub for MSMEs, describing it as “aligned with global digital trends.”
“The hub will give MSMEs affordable access to high-speed internet, modern equipment, and collaborative spaces to learn and innovate,” Tinubu said. “The digital world has room for the market woman in Ikom, the furniture maker in Calabar, and the fashion designer in Ogoja, Ugep, or Odukpani. Our Renewed Hope Agenda is about creating an environment where MSMEs not only survive but thrive. We aim to build an ecosystem with infrastructure that enhances creativity, not just give loans or grants.”
Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu described the MSME Clinic as a strategic partnership between the state and the Federal Government to stimulate entrepreneurship and grow the local economy. He said the state, through its Micro Finance and Enterprise Development Agency, had trained over 3,500 entrepreneurs in various business skills.
“The gains of MSMEs are limitless, and with collective efforts, they can significantly improve the people’s standard of living,” Otu said, pledging the state’s commitment to Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Also speaking, Mr. Pius Neji, Head of the Bank of Industry (BOI) in Cross River, said the bank had disbursed about N260 million to support MSMEs in rural areas of the state.
“Cross River has what it takes to drive Nigeria’s industrialisation and economic growth,” he added.