Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday, announced a N150,000 cash grant for exhibitors at the second edition of the National Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises clinic.

A grant of N100,000 was also given to over 200 owners of new stores at the Modern Adire International Market, Asero, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The National MSME Clinic was held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.

Shettima further disclosed that the clinic would serve as a bridge between the people and the government, adding that the clinics would serve as lifelines for enterprises in the state and the country as a whole.

He said, “Each exhibitor present at the clinic today stands to gain from our MSME instant grant of N150,000 each, courtesy of our esteemed private sector and His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“I hereby announce that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed that almost 200 new applications within this market be granted free of charge to small business traders for one year and each of them should enjoy a grant of N100,000.”

The Vice President noted that Ogun State is not only the industrial powerhouse of the nation but a committed supporter of the Federal Government’s efforts to support enterprises and empowerment.

He stated that his coming to the state signified the need to support businesses and transform ideas into commercially viable ventures, saying clinic was  a strategic intervention to fortify the foundation of small businesses

“The clinics serve as a link between the people and government. Small Businesses are now afforded platforms to present their business challenges, and seek timely intervention of monetary agencies all in an attempt to eliminate the task of navigating from one agency to another in their efforts to build the next unicorn out of Africa,” Shettima added.

Also speaking, Governor Dapo Abiodun said his administration had launched the Small and Medium Enterprises Industrial Land Acquisition Scheme with a 1,000 hectares industrial hub that has needed amenities like good roads, power, among others.

“The SME park is aimed at providing incentives to SMEs way below the market rate. There will be many incentives through industrial ownership and accelerated processing of their CoO which can be used as collateral for further financing.

“Other benefits of the park will include rebates on taxes and levies such as Land Use charges, building permits, land processing fees, etc. This park will cover agro-allied, agro-processing, home and personal care building materials and chemicals, food processing,” the governor said.