Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) can only play their catalytic role in economic development with the existence of a sustainable conducive operating environment.
According to the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), a major ingredient for development of the sector is collaboration among relevant stakeholders, including the government, policy makers and operators in the subsector.
SMEDAN canvassed its position at a retreat it organized in Lagos at the weekend to provide a platform to review the current modus operandi and recommend new ideas leading to the creation of an ideal operating environment for the development of MSMEs sub-sector.
The event had the theme, ‘Strategic Management Imperatives for Optimal Performance In The Emerging MSMEs Development Ecosystem.’
In his remarks, SMEDA Director-General, Mr. Dikko Radda, said: “we want to proffer solutions to some of the challenges facing the MSMEs sub-sector in Nigeria. That explains why we bring members out of their comfort zones so that we can concentrate and help proffer solutions, provide board members and management opportunity to interact and learn from each other and to look into the agency proposed five years strategic plan and designed for it.”
On his part, Governor of Lagos state, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu, said, “For us, we have positioned our MSMEs for growth through regular provision of support services such as training and skills acquisition for our artisans, youth and women-owned enterprises, financial employment through Lagos State Employment Trust Fund and marketing intervention such as sponsorship of participation at trade fairs and exhibition including the Lagos International trade fair and annual organisation of our state flagship MSMEs exclusive fair which propels global visibility, productivity and profitability of our teeming MSMEs.”
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives (MCIC), Mrs. Omobolanle Ogunmol, the Governor added, “We are also committed to the completion of the state light industrial park located in Imota to serve the needs of MSMEs which is about 60 percent completed, designed to support small business with amenities that would boost the productivity and profitability of MSMEs in the state
“We will continue to focus our attention on MSMEs as the bedrock and catalyst of our economic regeneration with regards to employment generation, poverty alleviation, wealth creation, and improvement in the standard of living is no doubt the right step in the right direction potentials of all players and stakeholders in MSMEs ecosystem through the decisive top-level management is therefore a sine qua non to our national development.”
