Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo Thursday lauded the efforts of Anambra state governor, Chief Willie Obiano in creating a viable state through creation of enabling environment for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
The acting president was at Onitsha for the MSME clinic, sponsored by the federal government in collaboration with the state government, where he addressed the business community and heads of agencies and parastatals of the federal government.
He stated that Anambra remained the industrial and commercial hub of Nigeria, and that the federal government was committed to working with the state government to create better life for business owners.
“This clinic, which was brought to Anambra is a demonstration to the commitment of the federal government to help businesses grow in Anambra.
“It is my first time in Anambra since the governor won reelection, but of course I have been here before, and I took time to visit manufacturers in Onitsha and Nnewi notably.
“MSME may be small, but they account for a large percentage of business activities in the country. That is why we are ready to support them. I am particularly happy with what your governor is doing with the Anambra State Small Business Agency (ASBA), where he gives loans to small businesses. We will partner with him to do better,” Osinbajo said.
He also stated that the idea of the business clinic was to bring together business owners on one hand, and agencies and parastatals on the other hand, so that business men would have the opportunity to interact with the agencies without travelling long way to access information.
Speaking on the ease of accessing loans and other facilities, Osinbajo said that the federal government was well aware of the hardship faced by business men in doing their business, and has taken steps to make certain facilities easier to access.
He said business registration that previously took so long to be precessed could now be done withing 48 hours, while loans that took several months can now be done within two months, attributing the success to the business clinic created by the federal government.
Earlier, Chief Obiano had thanked the Federal government for the vision behind the clinic, and the decision to bring it to Anambra state.
He said certain characteristics stood the Anambra businessman out, and they included their doggedness, industry, independence and hatred for failure.
Obiano said his government had done much with ASBA, and that if helped by the federal government through its agencies, “Anambra can leap frog Nigeria to an emerging economy.”
He added that, “We are doing so much here, but we need the critical support of the federal government.”
The event was attended by heads of agencies and Parastatals, including Bank of Industry, Raw Materials Research and Development Council, among others. Captains of industries, especially from Anambra State also graced the ocassion.
Osinbajo took time to visit the stands of various companies, who exhibited their products during the clinic, and commended their ingenuity.
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