Ex-attorney general faults poor funding of SMES

• Promises to turn ACCI to structured organisation

FORMER Attorney General of the Federation, and the newly elected 10th President of the Abuja Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Prince Adetokunbo A. Kayode, has faulted poor funding of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMES), by the three tiers of government.

Speaking Tuesday night in an inauguration ceremony organised by the Chamber, Kayode added that the Organised Private Sector (OPS), has always shown readiness to canvass and develop new concepts of alternative funding mechanisms for the SMES. According to him, ACCI will appreciate if agencies will concentrate on their core mandates in 2018 and beyond, to support and thrive enterprises rather than unbridled demands for all manners of payments, which make doing business very harrowing and unprofitable.

The new President, who succeeded Tony Ejinkeonye, however vowed to move the chamber from its current amorphous status to a restructured organisation. He said: “We are setting up a Secretariat with four centres, which include business entrepreneurship, skills and technology, Abuja trade and convention as well as policy advocacy and advisory.” He added that the new leadership has put in place a three-year plan for the implementation of the centres.

He also stressed the need for states to square in with the federal government for “full implementation of operationalisation of National Economic Council (NEC).”

This, he said, will aid proper economic planning, and eliminate the practice of reaction and adhocism, and a situation where critical policies are determined more by panic.

While congratulating past presidents and leadership of the Chamber, Kayode promised to build on their legacies.

In her remarks, the National President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Iyalode Alabi Lawson, said for ACCI to continue to thrive, operate efficiently and effectively to accomplish more outstanding goals for the benefits of the association, leaders must receive complete and voluntary support from all members of the chamber.