Kogi State Nationwide MSME Clinic

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YOU DON’T NEED CONNECTION TO BENEFIT FROM BUHARI GOVT’S PROGRAMMES – VP OSINBAJO

*We care about all those ignored in the past, VP says at Lokoja MSMEs clinic

“The President has asked me to say to you that every one of our programmes is aimed at giving you a better life. I want to say that this is one of the reasons why you don’t need to know anybody to benefit from any of the programmes that President Buhari has established through his government.” – Vice President

REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AT LAUNCH OF THE MSMEs CLINIC IN LOKOJA, KOGI STATE, ON 13^TH FEBRUARY, 2018

PROTOCOLS

Let me say that I am extremely happy to be here and I bring you special greetings from President Muhammad Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

I bring you a special message from him because, as you know, one of the major concerns of our President is all of the young people and especially women, artisans, traders, the very hardworking people of this State and this Country.

He has asked me to say that the reason we set up the MSME clinics, the Social Investment Programmes, is because we care about the young people, traders, market women, widows, physically challenged; we care about all of those who have been ignored in the past.

The President has asked me to say to you that every one of our programmes is aimed at giving you a better life. I want to say that this is one of the reasons why you don’t need to know anybody to benefit from any of the programmes that President Buhari has established through his government.

If you are N-Power, you apply and you are chosen, you don’t need to know a Senator, or Governor, Vice President or President. It is completely fair, that is the same thing we do with GEEP, which is the market money that we give, and you don’t need to know anybody, if you are eligible, and we give you. That is the kind of country we want to establish, a country without corruption, a country where there is no need for a “man knows man” or “woman knows woman.” Where, if you are a Nigerian, you are entitled to the programmes of the Government, that is the type of country our President wants to establish.

I am very proud of what has happened here, and I want to congratulate the Governor, Yahaya Bello, for the very outstanding work that you are doing here, in particular, for young people, for widows and for the market women and the physically challenged.

I am told that between yesterday and today, there have been over 800 exhibitors, over 20,000 participants, including market women, youth corps members, widows, manufacturers, tailors, bead makers, and paint makers. I have even seen somebody who has crafted a very ingenious rice mill, and so many creative and hardworking people of Kogi State.

When I go back to Abuja, I will be able to tell the President that I came here and I saw people who are determined, people who are hardworking, and we will support you, we will provide for you, and we will do everything that we can to make sure that you are successful.

For the small businesses, I am here today with NAFDAC, SON, with Bank of Industry, with so many of our organizations that help move businesses; that give approvals. The reason why I brought them with me is that we believe that all of these organizations must be ready to work with small business owners. It is very difficult for small businesses to move from place to place, so we have brought them here so you can see them, and they can see you, and you can discuss your problems with them.

We intend to continue to do this so that at the end of the day, you can develop your businesses well. We believe that small businesses are the way that a country grows, and we will support you all the way.

Finally, let me congratulate all of the N-power employees; let me congratulate all of those who have received alerts from the Market Money scheme and all the beneficiaries of the other SIP programmes.

Let me assure you of something: we will make sure that anybody who is eligible gets their loans; that is why I am here.

Thank you very much.