*Restates FG’s commitment to growth of MSMEs
“It is very impressive that somewhere in Abuja, you can have so much manufacturing going on, so many people employed and so much innovation and creativity on display”, said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, today during a visit to DLK Clothing Signatures LTD, a manufacturer of shoes, garments and other items, located in Lugbe, a suburb of Abuja.
The Vice President accompanied by Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, among other officials, also visited Roving Heights Book Store located at the Wuse II area of the FCT, as the 2021 MSME Week gets underway.
At the Lugbe facility, Prof. Osinbajo was conducted round the different production lines by the CEO of the company, Barr. Lovelyn Mbanefo. He was taken round the shoe-making line, garment factory and the face mask production line. The VP interacted with the workers at the factory as he observed the inner workings and the different processes in the production line.
At the Roving Heights Book Store in Wuse II, the Vice President was conducted around the Book Store by Ms Nike Oyetunde, the Co-founder of the book store, where the professor bought a few titles and was told about the business operations and how sales fare in the book store.
Speaking in a chat with journalists during the tour, Prof. Osinbajo said the Federal Government will continue to give priority attention to MSMEs especially those creating jobs for Nigerians.
According to him, “this is our MSME Week, we are looking at star MSMEs here and there, looking at what they are doing and in what ways we can support them, so we are looking forward to working with them.”
At the Lugbe stop, the VP told reporters “we are here at the DLK manufacturing company. They manufacture, as you have seen, boots, shoes, special uniforms for the NYSC, for the Armed Forces, and they also make bags and masks. Even face masks.
“This is quite an impressive facility because first, there is a wide range of products that are manufactured right here, and secondly, there is a good number of young men and women that are employed.
“Thirdly, and importantly, the equipment is state-of-the-art. We have looked around and we have seen that you can do practically anything here. You can do all of the manufacture of boots for the Armed Forces, and they already have something they are doing for the Armed Forces, the Customs Service, and the NYSC.”
He expressed satisfaction with the operations of both MSMEs and said what he had observed was quite impressive.
In commemoration of the 2021 MSME Week, culminating in the World MSME Day on June 27, series of activities have been planned.
Only yesterday, the Vice President held a virtual interaction with leaders of the organized private sector on issues bothering on the economy, especially the growth of MSMEs.
The President of NASME, Mr. Orimadegun Agboade, praised the Vice President for his “personal attention to MSMEs Clinics, describing the VP’s support as “more than what we can express.”
On Thursday, June 24, the first National MSME Discourse which will focus on challenges and prospects in the MSME sector will be declared open by the Vice President with panelists and discussants drawn from the public and private sectors.
On Friday the National Fashion and Arts Exhibition featuring notable fashion designers across the country will be held at the State House Banquet Hall, while the grand finale of the week, the National MSME Awards will hold on Sunday June 27 at the same venue.
Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
22nd June 2021
