President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hub in Ekiti State.
Vice President Kashim Shettima announced this yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, while declaring open the third expanded National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Clinics.
During his visit, the Vice President inaugurated a number of projects, such as the Ekiti MSME fabrics hub, Adire Ekiti Hub, and the Omisanjana-Shepherd road of the Biodun Oyebanji administration.
Shettima said the ICT hub, which is expected to be completed within 90 days, would serve as a veritable platform to harness the potential of the state’s youths in the technology space.
The Vice President said President Tinubu was committed to empowering youths and business owners through policies and programmes that would enhance sustainable economic growth and development.
He assured business owners and entrepreneurs in the state that the Federal Government, through Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), had entered partnership with relevant institutions towards rendering financial and technical supports to them for expansion of their businesses.
Shettima, who hailed Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his commitment to the welfare of the people, promised that the Tinubu administration would continue to initiate projects that would impact positively on the citizens.
He said: “On the issue of the MSME, this expanded clinics has brought together the regulators in the sector alongside business owners and investors from various business classes across the length and breadth of this nation. We are honoured to be joined by government partners and agencies, such as SMEDAN, NEXIM, ITF, NAFDAC, and others.
“They are here to offer guidance and provide the necessary services for the smooth operation of your businesses. Our private sector partners, including, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), and many others, are equally mobilised to collaborate with you in transforming your entrepreneur dream to reality.
“Your governor (Oyebanji) had, during his visit to the Presidential Villa in Abuja recently, demanded the establishment of another modern ICT facility in the state capital, Ado-Ekiti. I had conveyed his request to President Tinubu who has approved the creation of an additional ICT hub in Ado-Ekiti. This project will be completed within 90 days.
“Mr. President has also directed that business owners at this MSME clinic today receive a N150,000 grant each. This is an outright grant and the beneficiaries will not need to repay it. We thank our partners for this.”
Oyebanji praised Shettima and President Tinubu for their support, saying their advice and ideas helped his administration in delivering the Shared Prosperity Agenda for the state.
