VP OSINBAJO INAUGURATES DIGITAL LEATHER HUB INDUSTRY IN ANAMBRA
Reporter : ONYINYE CHIJIOBI
The Federal Government says it will complete all projects in the South East region before the exit of the present Federal Governmet. Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, stated this at the official opening of an ultra-modern multifunctional and digital leather industrial hub equipped in Ogbunike, Oyi Local Government Area. The project is a collaboration between the Federal Government and the Anambra State Government.
The facility is geared towards the enhancement of industrialization drives in Anambra State in the area of shoe and other leather products. It is in fulfilment of Federal Government’s promise to equip a one-stop-center that would house ultra modern industrial shoe making hub with cutting edge technology.
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo stated that both the Federal and state governments would not relent in making the area conducive for investment. Professor Osinbajo maintained that the essence of inaugurating the facility was to ensure that small businesses got opportunities to sophisticated equipment.
The Minister of Trade, and Investment, Ambassador Mariam katagum, who said that the Federal Government was committed to empowering Nigerians, noted that the inauguration of the project was a step in the right direction. Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, who said that the economic benefits of the complex would be enormous, pointed out that it would create jobs and hundreds of small businesses as well as have a huge impact on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the state.
The Governor also expressed joy that the complex had a factory fully equipped with the latest technology for shoe making. He said that the process of manufacturing shoes in the state would be fully automated from start to finish and compared to the highest shoe making processes in the advanced parts of world.
The Managing Director Anambra State Small Business Agency, Mr. Clement Chukwuka, who commended the Federal Government for the creation and effective management of the national MSME’s programmes that resulted in the provision of shoe and leather making digital equipment, explained that the agency utilized, prudently, the two billion niara MSMEs fund from the Central Bank of Nigeria to achieve its feat.
He, however, stressed that the project would be a legacy one with multiplier effects to the state and the country in general. He therefore urged the shoe makers to apply strong professionalism in its management.
The Chairman of the Market, Mr. Clement Ohazor, who commended government for making their work easier, also stressed the need for loans to be given to them for efficient service delivery.