President Osinbajo meet with the producersThe Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, has called on  government agencies established to work with indigenous entrepreneurs to assist them grow.

Osinbajo made the call on Thursday in Aba, during the opening of the National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) clinic.

He said that a tour of production zones across Nigeria showed that local producers were faced with the challenge of accessing finance and getting help from government agencies established to assist them grow.

He said that the desire of government to address the challenges faced by local producers and the agencies assigned to guide and put them through resulted in the idea of the MSME clinic.

He noted that Aba manufacturers had the Nigerian attribute of creative ingenuity and innovativeness, adding that they had over the years produced good quality products like the Chinese.

Osinbajo pointed out that if Nigeria must diversify, government must pay attention and support local entrepreneurs.

He promised that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari  would encourage local manufacturers compete internationally.

Earlier in his welcome address, Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia thanked the Vice President for coming to Aba to open the MSME clinic.

“I told them (Aba manufacturers) that you came here today in realisation of one of your passions which is to ensure Nigeria stands on its feet based on what we can produce with our hands.

“The choice of Aba as the first place this national clinic is holding is apt; we merit it for the reason that there is nothing you ask an Aba man to produce for you that you get no for an answer.

“This is my way of underscoring the spirit of resilience of the average Aba person.

“The energy with which Aba people produce these products is infectious and electrifying”, the governor said.

Ikpeazu urged agencies established to assist local producers produce goods fit for consumption all over the world to give them a helping hand to make the dream of Nigerian products acceptable world wide a reality.

He also urged the agencies to improve their style of doing business to enable producers see them as partners, not barricades and policemen to ther businesses.

The governor promised to allocate land to any of such agencies wishing to set up their offices in Aba to enable them assist micro, small and medium scale industries.

Ikpeazu later escorted Osinbajo to the various stands mounted by Aba manufacturers to inspect different products on display and interact with them. (NAN)