Ekiti State Government has described the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima’s visit to the State as a testament to the Governor’s vision for a prosperous Ekiti State, adding that the ripple effect of the visit is unquantifiable in boosting industrialization, human capital development as well as combating youth unemployment and poverty.
The Vice President was on a one-day working visit to Ekiti State last week where he officially launched the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Clinic/Fashion and Garment Hub, commissioned the 9.2km Omisanjana-Deeper Life-Ajebandele Road, visited the Ekiti Adire hub and announced FG’s approval of the establishment of an Information Communication Technology (ICT) hub with 150,000 naira grant for each MSME in the State.
Speaking in Ado Ekiti, the State Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun attributed the development to Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s tenacity to develop the State and make life more meaningful and easier for residents, stressing the Governor’s uncanny passion and level headed disposition to the industrialization of the State annexing the abundant human capital resources in the State.
According to Olatunbosun, the Oyebanji administration is revolutionizing agriculture and moving the State from mere subsistent farming to real agribusiness, promoting artisans to entrepreneurs, creating employment opportunities and gradually making poverty history in the State with its six-point development agenda.
Expressing gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his demonstration of interest in the development of the State, the Government spokesman assured that the huge investment in MSMEs in the State would be judiciously utilized and well monitored to ensure sustainability, adding that the administration would continue to partner the Federal Government, in the quest to achieve its goals.
He said the State Government would fashion out a sustainable business model for the hub for proper support to guarantee resilience and sustainability, adding that the target is to protect the people and the environment by identifying the products or services, target customers, the associated costs as well as supply and distribution chain.
In her remarks, the State Commissioner for Trades, Industry, Investment & Cooperatives, Mrs. Omotayo Adeola explained that the newly commissioned Fashion and Garment hub was equipped with over 300 advanced machines, including industrial sewing, whipping and weaving, monogram, heat transfer, dryer, industrial printers and a 100KVA generator, positioning it as a central pillar in the State’s industrial ecosystem.
Mrs. Adeola recalled that the construction of the project alone provided direct employment for over 600 Ekiti youths, including bricklayers, tilers, electricians, painters, cleaners, welders, carpenters, borehole drillers and machine installers, stressing that the move not only instantly tackled challenges of unemployment but also laid the groundwork for sustainable job creation and skill development, reflecting the administration’s proactive approach to economic challenges.
Adeola assured of Governor Oyebanji’s commitment to success of the project and has approved government patronage of the products made in the facility to guarantee a stable market for the trainees, fostering economic stability and growth, adding that the Fashion and Garment Hub was set to offer comprehensive training programs in fashion, tailoring and ready-to-wear production, specifically targeting both employed and unemployed youths in the State.
Noting that the MSME clinic featured a plenary session where representatives of various regulatory bodies including NAFDAC, SON, ITF, SMEDAN, BOI, BOA, CAC were present to educate Ekiti MSMEs of current interventions and empowerments that were available for them, Adeola also assured that the process would be continuous adding that Government would continue to provide necessary support to ensure the success of the programme and achieving the desired goals.
She said the newly approved MSME ICT Hub would be established within the Odua Complex to provide critical services such as virtual offices, co-working spaces, business support tools and free internet access and help enhance the support framework for MSMEs in the State.