The directorate of Artisans and Technicians of the Tinubu/Shettima presidential campaign council has implored president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and vice president-elect, Kashim Shettima, not to forget the promises made to Artisans through the Renewed Hope manifesto which clearly states that the incoming administration would recognise and stimulate entrepreneurship by introducing programmes designed to help Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs).
The council’s directorate stated this when its members paid a congratulatory courtesy visit to the Shettima and director general of the presidential campaign council and Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong.
The visit which took place at the Plateau State Governor’s Lodge with the director of the committee, Sanusi Rikiji (The sadaunki Zamfara); national coordinator of the Artisans and Technicians nationwide, Comrade Adeshina Akinyemi, assistant director, Hon Princess Onouha, a serving member and Reps-elect, and other members of the directorate was mainly orchestrated to congratulate the DG of the campaign, Lalong, on the success of the last 2023 general election.
The director of the committee expressed his deep appreciation to Lalong for all his support throughout the campaign and for the great work done in delivering Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the president.
He also expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for giving an Avenue for the INEC to conduct the most free and fair election in the history of Nigeria.
Rikiji admonished Lalong to not forget the promises made to artisans through the Renewed Hope manifesto.
He recalled that the manifesto stated clearly that the incoming administration will recognize and stimulate entrepreneurship by introducing programs designed to help today’s Micro Small and medium enterprise (MSMEs) to grow and help business owners acquire more skills and necessary knowledge to run a business.
This, according to him, if properly executed would increase the IGR and GDP of the country and boost the economy to a very considerable state.
Rikiji noted that in line with the All Progressive Congress (APC) manifesto for a more robust development, there is an urgent need to scale up the following micro economy, increase gross domestic product, improve employment opportunities, address the issue of insecurity, address the issue of youth restiveness, and improve small and Afro-allied industries.
Rikiji further said the suggestions made can be achieved through the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).
The national coordinator of the Artisans and Technicians in Nigeria, comrade Adeshina Akinyemi, expressed profound gratitude to the leadership of the presidential campaign council and the president-elect for deeming it fit to create the committee for Artisans and Technicians for the first time in the history of Nigerian election.
He appreciated their deep thought in recognizing the association, saying it has given the incoming administration a very good look, as Nigerian Artisans are happy to be carried along and optimistic for what is to come during the incoming administration.
Comrade Adeshina in his statement said he hopes the good reward system will be carried out after the directorate had been able to deliver their promise of 30 artisans votes per polling unit which is tagged “operation 30:30” during the last concluded Presidential election.
Responding to the directorate, the DG of the Tinubu/Shettima campaign council, Governor Lalong, appreciated the visit and commended the directorate for a job properly delivered.
According to him, they saw the hard work and it will be repaid in due time, just as he admonished members of the directorate to be rest assured that everybody will be carried along in the incoming administration.
He stated in his remark that all directorate will be called upon in due time and everyone who has worked in ensuring the mandate was delivered will be compensated accordingly.
Princess Onouha in her closing remarks appreciated the assurance given by the DG campaign Simon Lalong.
The directorate also paid a similar visit to the vice-president elect, Kashim Shettima.
During the visit, Rikiji urged Shettima to invite the executive members of the various associations across the 36 states of the federation to extend the word of appreciation to them on behalf of the President-Elect and the presidential campaign council and all the leaders of the All Progressive Party (APC).
The VP-elect appreciated the Directorate for a good job well done and for delivering the operation 30:30 effectively.