Yesterday, the Federal Government outlined several initiatives being undertaken to provide enabling environment for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as part of government’s agenda to boost inclusive growth and development.
Speaking yesterday at the launch of the 9th Expanded National MSME Clinic in Katsina, Vice President Kashim Shettima reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s resolve to build inclusive national prosperity through enterprise-driven reforms.
He said the government is empowering entrepreneurs as the engine of sustainable economic growth.
He announced President Tinubu’s approval of an unconditional N250,000 grant for each outstanding Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) exhibiting at the event.
Shettima said: “This is a non-repayable grant. It reflects the President’s commitment to removing the barriers that have historically held back our MSMEs. We are building a nation where every Nigerian entrepreneur — from our cities to our rural communities — has access to the tools and opportunities needed to thrive”.
He said the grant aligns with broader reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda, including the N75 billion Manufacturers Fund targeted at revitalising the industrial sector and expanding access to finance for productive enterprises.
He noted that under the Rural Area Programme on Investment for Development (RAPID), 23 rural-based MSMEs in Katsina have already received N112 million in support.
Highlighting the success of the N5 billion Katsina MSME Growth Fund, a joint initiative between the federal and state governments, Shettima pointed out that N576 million had been disbursed to 237 beneficiaries since June 2024.
He said: “This matching fund is designed to boost local businesses, and Katsina has shown that it understands what it means to empower entrepreneurs”.
In his address titled “Katsina: The Spirit of Enterprise,” Shettima lauded Governor Dikko Umaru Radda for his innovation in establishing the Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency (KASEDA), describing it as a model for subnational enterprise development.
He said: “We came into office bearing the promise to ease the affairs of our nation, and our gateway to this is the assurance of support for our businesses. Our MSMEs stand as the foundation of this foresight”.
Radda, in his remarks, said the priority given to MSMEs stems from their central role in driving inclusive economic growth, adding that his administration’s enterprise blueprint is transforming over 100,000 small businesses across the state.
