The Federal government of Nigeria in recognition of MSMEs as the engine room of the Nigerian economy has established the Eko Fashion Hub at Ikeja, Lagos, a one-stop center for fashion designers to share facilities and resources.

The Eko Fashion Hub is a Fashion Cluster Shared Facility for MSMEs. The cluster provides high-quality operating equipment which small businesses can access at a reasonable cost, within a conducive space.

Federal Government has shown commitment to creating a more business friendly environment for MSMEs through the MSME Clinics Initiative, in which MSMEs Shared Facility Scheme is a core component.

The shared facility has a total of 161 machines, which includes, 74 industrial straight sewing machines, 10 industrial steam pressing irons, four monogramming machines, eight industrial button-hole and five industrial button tacking machines, Tinko and Coil machines, heming and industrial weaving machines, among others. The Facility also has a 100kva standby generator and a 2kva solar power system.

Located by the old Alade market, off the Allen Avenue roundabout, the Eko Fashion Hub aims to become one of the leading commercial hubs on the continent and is equipped with first-rate machines and equipment and it is estimated to service about 380 MSMEs daily, & 136,800 yearly.

While virtually commissioning the facility, VP Yemi Osinbajo noted, “With the launch of the Eko MSME Fashion Hub 1, MSMEs in and around Ikeja will no longer have to travel far to use equipment that is expensive for individual businesses to procure by themselves such as those for making button-holes or monogramming.

“With its full-scale production line, this Hub will enable the production of a diverse range of clothing and garments: wedding dresses, military uniforms, office wear, and similar products. Very soon, the products of the Hub will be ubiquitous on the streets and in stores around the country. The fashion industry will be one of Nigeria’s biggest sources of revenues, it will be bigger than oil.”

READ: How to Apply for Government N75Bn MSME Survival Fund for Self Employed, Transporters, Artisans etc.