By Chukwudi Enekwechi JP
It is an indisputable fact that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo shares some fundamental values with President Muhammadu Buhari in terms of integrity and vision to rejuvenate Nigeria into a prosperous country. This is amply demonstrated in his approach to the revival of moribund national institutions and establishment of new ones.
Realising that economy remains the engine room of development for any country, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has continued to make deliberate efforts aimed at providing the enabling environment for the various states and Nigeria’s economy in general to once again witness a boost.
For example, the creation of MSME Clinics under the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan is meant to provide spot-on solutions to the challenges of the Medium and Small scale Enterprises in Nigeria.
To realise this objective, the clinics partner with key government institutions like Bank of Industry, Corporate Affairs Commission, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria Export Promotion Council, Nigeria Export Import Bank and Bank of Agriculture.
Some of the benefits accruable from the MSMEs Clinics are speedy access to finance, business registration at 50% in some cases, product registration and certification within a record time. Already the federal government has launched the pilot scheme of the One Stop Shop Solutions for MSMEs in five states while more states will still benefit.
So far the vice president has visited sixteen states of the federation for the MSMEs Clinics.
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His inclination to think out of the box as the leader of the federal government’s economic team has in many ways boosted the country’s economy and attracted the inflow of foreign direct investments. Presently Nigeria is the preferred destination for foreign investors while the stock exchange and Nigeria’s foreign reserve are on the upward swing. Professor Osinbajo is also applying ingenuous solutions to the myriad of problems in the country.
A typical example is the federal government’s initiative in setting up National Social Investment Programme NSIP Innovation Technology Hubs across the country.
The focus is to use these hubs to fix problems that are peculiar to each of the six geo-political zones of the country and to ensure their sustainability the federal government is partnering with the private sector. The Innovation Hubs are tailored to meet the peculiar needs of each geo-political zone.
For example, the North East Innovation Hub will support innovative solutions to the humanitarian challenges in the North East part of the country, and this will be in partnership with the private sector and the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
The South South Innovation Hub is meant to find workable solutions to the challenges in Tourism, Education, The Environment and Oil & Gas, while the South East and North Central Innovation Hub is tailored towards solving problems associate with commerce, finance, governance and agriculture.
Similarly, the federal government is partnering with Ventures Platform Foundation to realise the objectives. This unique problem-solving model will be replicated in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria.
There is no doubt that his unrelenting support to various state governments, federal ministries, agencies and parastatals has served as a catalyst for the turnaround we are currently witnessing in the various sectors of the economy.
Firstly, on assumption of office, Professor Osinbajo with the support of President Buhari rolled out various policy measures aimed at alleviating the plight of the most vulnerable groups in our midst.
To cater for the needs of poor school children, a school feeding programme was introduced across the thirty six states of the federation, whereby every primary school child was entitled to one meal a day. Similarly the N-Power programme of the Buhari/Osinbajo administration has become institutionalised and a global model for empowering jobless youths.
It is also worth remembering that based on the collective vision of President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Nigerians realised that Nigeria can actually be a rice exporting country.
Today that vision has been realised as we are now self-sufficient in rice production. This achievement is unprecedented and was unimaginable until the duo came to the saddle.
Professor Yemi Osinbajo can be said to have brought innovation into the way Nigeria’s economy is being managed as his innovative ideas have seen businesses being revived, industrial clusters being set up, technology hubs being established and markets being electrified with solar power across the country.
These systematic and deliberate efforts by the federal government have helped to create jobs for the country’s teeming youth population and released the creative energies of the Nigerian people. There is no doubt that with the commitment the federal government has brought to bear on rejuvenating the economy that a solid foundation is being laid for the rapid industrialisation of the country.
It is also gratifying that serious attention is being paid to the economy as it forms one of the three major planks of President Buhari’s cardinal objectives in government. Security and war against graft are equally receiving adequate attention.
Professor Osinbajo has been tireless and focused at ensuring that Nigerians reap the dividends of democracy as encapsulated in the “change agenda” of the administration, and so far his efforts are reverberating across the country and yielding expected results.
As a man of vision imbued with rare leadership qualities he is not given or predisposed to inanities and trivialities, rather he always concentrates on dealing with developmental issues that can impact positively on all Nigerians.
From Kano to Edo, Lagos to Enugu, Calabar to Benue, Professor Osinbajo has become the man of the moment as he continually enjoys the goodwill and support of President Buhari in their collective vision and desire to make life more meaningful for Nigerians.
Perhaps it needs to be restated for the umpteenth time that with the various programmes and policies being put in place by the Buhari/Osinbajo administration such as the revival of the railways, agricultural revolution, and fight against corruption, poverty eradication, youth empowerment and support to businesses, Nigeria is on an irreversible path to growth, progress and development. This is possible and can only be achieved with the unalloyed support of the people.
An Abuja Based Journalist and Politician
Kwechis19@yahoo.com
