As part of its effort to support the Federal Government’s ease of doing business initiative, the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, yesterday, participated at the 28th Edition of the National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Clinic held in Dutse, Jigawa State Capital.
The event was graced by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Jigawa State Governor, Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar, Minsiter of state of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Maryam Katagum, Director General NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi and other top government officials.
While addressing the gathering, the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said, given the priority it attaches to the MSME sector over the years, the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration has supported MSMEs in various ways including through the MSME Clinics Initiative which is being conducted through partnership of relevant MDAs.
He stated that over the past few years, Federal Government have held a national MSME day in tandem with World MSME Day in order to further build the profile of MSMEs and promote understanding of the sector.
On his part, Governor Badaru of Jigawa State commended all the MDAs that collaborated to bring together MSMEs under one roof to interact with the aim of proffering solutions to factors hindering the growth of their ventures.
He said his administration, with the support of Federal Government, introduced small scale mechanization on farming process to improve efficiency in production, by providing hand held harvesters, planters, tractors, combined harvesters, over 500 mini threshers, sprayers and pesticide to thousand beneficiaries.
Speaking of behalf of NITDA during the MSME Town Hall meeting, Mr Bello Mele of Department of Digital Economy, said Agency is at the event to strengthen partnership and provide Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with IT knowledge in line with Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a Digital Nigeria.
He said NITDA has been partnering with the office of the Vice President, Prof Osinbajo’s on the MSME Clinic and have participated in all past editions, adding that, “the major reasons NITDA is attending MSMEs Clinic is to provide an avenue for small businesses with required IT knowledge to drive their day-to-day businesses online through the use of digital platforms, while supporting them with free domain registration.”
MSME Clinics was introduced by the Federal Government of Nigeria to bring together key frontline Government Agencies and Stakeholders to interact with a view of removing impending business challenges faced by Small and Medium Enterprises.
The MSME Clinics is a collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, State Governments, and key federal agencies such as; Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Bank of Industry (BOI), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Industry Training Funds (ITF), Small and Medium Enterprise Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), NEXIM Bank, The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and many others.
