The federal government has announced plans to formalize one million businesses across Nigeria at a discounted rate.

Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed yesterday when he launched the Expanded National MSME Clinic in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, marking the first stop on a nationwide journey to empower small and medium-sized businesses by breaking down barriers and providing crucial resources.

Benue’s pioneership of the MSME Clinic sets the stage for a nationwide rollout scheduled to traverse Ebonyi, Ogun, Delta, Kaduna, Borno, Katsina States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in a meticulously planned itinerary for the first half of 2024, and thus culminate in the National MSME Awards, a fitting celebration of entrepreneurial spirit coinciding with World MSME Day, on June 27, 2024 in Abuja.

Speaking at the launch in Makurdi, VP Shettima emphasised the federal government’s commitment to creating a thriving MSME ecosystem, as he acknowledged the crucial role MSMEs play in job creation and economic development.