President Goodluck Jonathan, on Thursday, inaugurated the National Council on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) which he said was aimed at building an economy that works for all Nigerians.
The council is headed by Vice President Namadi Sambo.
Speaking at the event, the president said the inauguration of the council marked a turning point in the national economic development drive of his administration with regards to making MSMEs the core elements of economic transformation.
He said his administration was able to achieve a reasonable level of macro-economic stability even in the face of global economic recession.
According to him, there was need for critical economic issues of inclusion and wealth distribution to be urgently addressed as the country builds a strong economy and attracts unprecedented investments.
“The creation of this council is a testament to the commitment of this administration to all inclusive economic growth. Our commitment is to meet the aspirations of our people and in doing so ensuring rapid economic development, benefiting all our citizens, north, south, east or west. Our focus will remain to build an economy that works for all Nigerians, and the MSME council that we are to inaugurate today is essential to achieving this goal.
“The growth of MSMEs is one that is very important in any nation that aspires towards self-sufficiency. MSMEs are the innovators, the wealth creators as well as the employment generators. Every MSME today has the potential of growing to the last corporation of tomorrow and that is why we are now backing the initiative with the creation of this council. I repeat, we must ensure that this economy works for all of our people, that we indeed become a land of opportunities for all and a land where hopes become reality regardless of who you are, where you hail from or whatever belief you share,” the president said.
Responding, Vice President Sambo commended the president for the “bold initiative of approving and inaugurating the council for the first time in the history of our dear nation.”
The initiative, according to him, underscored the importance of MSMEs in then overall development agenda of this administration.
“In order to properly position and develop this all important sub-sector for the achievement of the transformation agenda and the national Vision 20:2020, all the challenges militating against their optimum performance must be deliberately confronted,” he said.
“Therefore, the National Council on MSMEs as approved and inaugurated by Mr President today will holistically tackle the challenges confronting MSMEs in Nigeria,” he said.
