Towards ensuring the robust development of its sub-sector, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), has announced that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the revised National Policy on MSMEs.
Furthermore, for sustainable post-pandemic recovery, the agency wooed Nigerians especially entrepreneurs to leverage government intervention programs for comparative and competitive advantages.
These were made known during the opening ceremony of the 2021 MSME opportunity fair at the NERDC Conference Building, Lagos State.
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Dr Lola Akande said businesses must adapt to the new reality of remote work brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
While speaking in the theme of the program: Key to an Inclusive and Sustainable Post Pandemic Recovering, the commissioner explained the need for Nigeria to diversify her economy through networking and value addition which is paramount now due to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and the likely attended economic recession.
She charged the government and private sector, especially small businesses to step up their game by creating a positive business environment for
entrepreneurship and small business growth.
“As a responsive and responsible Government, it is therefore important for us to provide support to help entrepreneurs and business owners mitigate such challenges through consistent marketing support mileage activities.
“I want to assure you that the Lagos State Government would continue to be your partner in progress towards ensuring a conducive business environment for investment and investors to thrive in the state,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of SMEDAN, Dr Dikko Umaru, affirmed that the revised National Policy on MSMEs will be the overarching framework for the development of the sub-sector.
“The revised policy will soon be formally presented to Stakeholders. Let me use this opportunity to appeal to states yet to constitute their MSME State Council to do so while we equally urge States that their State Councils are inactive to work towards resuscitating them.” Umaru concluded.
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