VP Shettima praised the contribution of MSMEs to the economy

Vice President, Kashim Shettima hailed the contribution of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to the Nigerian economy, describing them as the engine room of the nation.

Shettima, who spoke on Saturday in Abuja at the 8th Abuja National MSME Awards event, noted that the current administration is building an entire ecosystem that fosters innovation, provides critical infrastructure and removes barriers that have historically hampered small businesses in Nigeria.

According to him, “90 percent of all businesses in Nigeria are MSMEs. They are the largest employers in the country, providing employment to more than 60 million of our people. Through bold and innovative ideas, and through sweat and courage, our MSMEs improve the livelihoods of Nigerians and transform our communities through the prosperity they create.”

The government is building a sustainable, enterprise-led Nigeria, where MSMEs improve livelihoods through prosperity created through targeted infrastructure projects, business support grants and economic reforms, the Vice President said.

The core vision, according to him, is to decentralize economic opportunities so that prosperity can be shared fairly among all citizens.

Represented at the event by the president’s deputy chief of staff, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, the vice president urged the award winners and every Nigerian entrepreneur to continue building, and assured them of the government’s support.

“Nigeria needs your ideas, your work, and your leadership. I am confident that the federal government, together with state governments and our private sector partners, will continue to build an enterprise-led nation where creativity is valued, small businesses grow into conglomerates, and prosperity is enjoyed by all,” he said.

VP Shettima noted that MSMEs improve people’s livelihoods and transform society through the prosperity they create.

As companies are critical to the country’s economy, the Vice President identified one of the key pillars of President Tinubu’s New Hope Agenda is creating “an enabling environment where they can thrive and prosper” rather than limiting them to grants and loans.