President Bola Tinubu has restated his administration’s resolve to drive the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across Nigeria.
Speaking at the 8th Expanded National MSME Clinic in Calabar on Wednesday—through Vice President Kashim Shettima—Tinubu said Nigeria had no reason to remain poor, given its vast human and natural resources.
Highlighting Cross River’s fertile land, he noted that the state could cultivate nearly every type of crop. “The Federal Government plans to plant 100 million oil palm trees, and no state is better positioned than Cross River to take advantage of this,” he said.
Tinubu explained that since assuming office, his government has prioritised access to capital and pledged support for ventures that would redefine the future of work, skills, and industry. He praised the Cross River State Government for establishing a modern communication and technology hub for MSMEs, aligning with global digital trends.
“The hub will offer affordable high-speed internet, modern equipment, and collaborative spaces for learning and innovation,” he said. “The digital space is open to everyone—from the market woman in Ikom to the furniture maker in Calabar and the fashion designer in Ogoja, Ugep, or Odukpani. Our Renewed Hope Agenda is about creating an environment where MSMEs can not only survive but thrive.”
He stressed that his administration’s support goes beyond loans and grants, focusing on building an ecosystem that provides infrastructure and boosts entrepreneurial creativity.
Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu described the MSME Clinic as a joint initiative between the state and the Federal Government to strengthen the entrepreneurial spirit of citizens and stimulate economic growth.
Through the state’s Micro Finance and Enterprise Development Agency, Otu said, more than 3,500 entrepreneurs had been trained in various aspects of business. He emphasised that MSMEs hold boundless potential to improve living standards if fully harnessed.
Otu commended the president’s vision and pledged the state’s support for the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Also speaking, Mr. Pius Neji, Head of the Bank of Industry (BOI) in Cross River, reaffirmed the bank’s role as a strategic partner to entrepreneurs. He revealed that BOI had disbursed about N260 million to MSMEs in the state, especially in rural areas.
“Cross River has everything it takes to make Nigeria greater,” Neji said. “Its industrialisation can move the country to the next level.”
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