Business Day (Nigeria)

LASG pledges greater support for MSMES

- JOSHUA BASSEY

Lagos State has reiterated its supports to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise­s (MSMES) operating in the state.

At the just concluded 4th edition of Lagos MSME exclusive fair, which held at the Agege Stadium, the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-olu, represente­d by Folashade Jaji, the secretary to the state government, noted that the supports to the MSMES was important because of the catalytic role they play in growing and sustaining the economy of any state.

“The potentials of the

MSME sector in terms of creativity, innovation, entreprene­urship developmen­t, wealth creation, value addition and employment generation are too attractive to be ignored by any discerning government in the 21st century.

It is for this reason that we have deemed it expedient to initiate and sustain policies and programmes to empower our people. One of such initiative­s is this MSME Exclusive Fair which is flagship trade fair and exhibition in Lagos State that gives indigenous small businesses increase leverage for greater visibility,” said the governor.

Similarly, Lola Akande, the commission­er for commerce, industry and cooperativ­es, whose ministry organised the fair, said that MSMES deserved the support because they were the engine of economic growth.

“MSMES have been playing an important role in our state and the nation. It therefore behooves the government at all levels to strengthen these agents of economic change.

As one of Nigeria’s most endowed economies, Lagos State has a lot of business opportunit­ies and entreprene­urial potential which are being tapped by industriou­s and innovative citizens for the growth and developmen­t of the economy,” said Akande.

On the essence of the fair, Oladele Ajayi, the special adviser on commerce, industry and cooperativ­es, explained that MSME fair was conceived to develop an innovation-driven private sector-led economy by enhancing productivi­ty and visibility of local businesses through a dedicated marketing platform.

“Reports from previous editions have been very encouragin­g and the current administra­tion in the state is committed to not only sustaining the spirit of the fair, but raise the bar internatio­nal standards,” said Ajayi.

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