…as FG, State Governments, and Royal Fathers unite to boost MSMEs
Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has said that the nation’s economic prosperity is closely tied to the success of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), declaring Ondo State as a strategic pillar in Nigeria’s socio-economic advancement.
Shettima made this assertion on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, during the 7th edition of the Expanded National MSME Clinic tagged Ondo 2025, held at The Dome, International Culture and Event Centre, Akure.
According to the Vice President, MSMEs contribute to 90% of jobs in Nigeria and are crucial in the country’s fight against poverty. He emphasized that without empowering small businesses, inclusive economic growth will remain elusive.
“MSMEs are the bedrock of Nigeria’s economy. For us to truly prosper as a nation, we must grow our small businesses. They are the heartbeat of job creation,” Shettima said.
He noted that 65 MSMEs in Ondo State have already benefited from the Federal Government’s ₦75 billion intervention fund, reinforcing the state’s importance in national development.
Shettima also unveiled part of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which includes planting 100 million oil palm trees across the country and reviving the cocoa industry.
Commending Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, the Vice President lauded the administration’s commitment to infrastructural development and MSME empowerment.
“Governor Aiyedatiwa’s passion for development is visible and impressive. I salute his administration’s work,” he remarked.
Aiyedatiwa: MSMEs Are Engines of Economic Revival
In his address, Governor Aiyedatiwa described the clinic as a transformational initiative that aligns with his administration’s OUR EASE agenda, aimed at economic expansion through support for MSMEs.
He celebrated Denki Wire and Cables Ltd and Kay Classic Fashion, two Ondo-based companies who recently won national recognition at the MSME Awards for Excellence in manufacturing and fashion.
The Governor also rolled out highlights of his administration’s efforts to empower small businesses:
Over ₦220 million in interest-free loans disbursed through the Ondo State Micro-Credit Agency (ODSMA) in 2024.
Collaboration with Bank of Industry on the ₦75 billion Federal MSME intervention fund.
Launch of the “One Youth, One Skill” program.
Establishment of the Odatiwa Skills Development Enterprise Centres (OSDEC) – the first mini shared facility in Ondo State.
He appealed to the Federal Government to support the state in establishing a Fashion Hub Shared Facility and an Oil Palm Processing Plant, to harness the state’s rich agricultural resources.
Other Leaders Rally Behind MSME Growth
Governor Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State, who also graced the event, called the clinic a “strategic tool for human capacity development,” urging Nigerians to support locally made goods as a way to build national productivity.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, praised the initiative for empowering young entrepreneurs and advocated for stronger collaboration between public and private sectors.
Mr. Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, shared a nationwide recap of the clinic’s impacts, emphasizing how direct engagement with regulators has improved MSME performance across states.
State Government Commits to Youth Empowerment
In his welcome address, Deputy Governor Dr. Olayide Adelami expressed appreciation to VP Shettima, affirming that the Aiyedatiwa-led government has implemented policies that support small businesses and stimulate economic growth.
Also speaking, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Empowerment and Job Creation, Orioye Gbayisemore, revealed that over 10,000 youths have been empowered through various state initiatives, hailing Ondo youth as “hardworking, creative, and entrepreneurial.”
Earlier in the day, the Vice President visited the Ondo State Council of Obas Secretariat, where he met with traditional rulers to seek royal backing for the Tinubu administration’s policies and 2027 reform agenda.
