The wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu has urged Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SME) to be more innovative and build on the contacts and knowledge gained at the just concluded Fifth Edition of MSME Exclusive Fair.
Speaking on Sunday at the closing ceremony of the five-day Fair held at De Blue Roof, LTV, Agidingbi, Lagos, Sanwo-Olu said the idea of the Exclusive Fair is in furtherance of the commitment to enhance the profitability of MSMEs as envisioned by the present administration.
She said that it is particularly instructive and commendable that the theme ‘MSMEs in the Time of COVID-19: Survival Strategies to Beat the Odds’ was carefully selected to prepare members of the sector for the challenges foisted on the world by the unanticipated and unexpected crisis brought about by the pandemic.
“Although the global economy is slowly recovering from the downward trend occasioned by the Coronavirus disease, the fact remains that many economies are still contending with the sordid realities of a health crisis which, at some point, literarily shut down economic activities across the globe”, she added.
Sanwo-Olu further maintained that for an emerging success story in terms of economic recovery to be sustained, the MSME sector has a key role to play, being the heart of the nation’s economy.
She, however, expressed delight that participants at the fair took advantage of the opportunity provided by the daily business clinics to network with private investors, business support providers, regulatory agencies and other institutional development agencies for enhancement of their profitability and competitiveness.
The Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Dr. (Mrs.) Lola Akande disclosed that the state government has introduced the first of its kind e-commerce platform for the entrepreneurs to begin the process of digitisation of their businesses.
Speaking on the just concluded fair, the commissioner said that this year’s Lagos MSME Fair recorded exhibition by equipment manufacturers and exporters in a bid to provide relevant technology solutions to business owners across the State.
According to her, the coming together of this business owners presented an opportunity for networking among over 100 SME operators who participated in the Fair and exhibited their goods and services.
Akande also celebrated the resilience of SME operators, particularly during this challenging period of COVID-19, just as she enjoined them to be more dynamic and innovative as the new business environment demands.
Dignitaries present at the event included the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat; wife of the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs. Falilat Obasa; and APC Southwest Women Leader, Mrs. Kemi Nelson, among others.
The highlights of the event were the presentation of gifts such as 250ml Chest Freezers, Fridges and other items to winners of the raffle draw.
