By Niyi Ogungbola
The Ogun State Government says it is focused on helping 10,000 entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses through the second edition of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Business Clinic which commences in Abeokuta.
The Business Clinics is scheduled to hold across four other Zones in the State which include Ijebu, Sagamu/Ogijo, Isheri/Akute and the Ado-Odo/Ota.
Declaring the event open at the Centenary Hall, Ake, Abeokuta, the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun stated that the Clinic is established to address the challenges facing MSMEs, in order to ease the burden on entrepreneurs in the State.
Represented by the Chief Economic Adviser and Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, Governor Abiodun noted that the present administration was already helping the MSMEs sub-sector through the facilitation of access to finance, market linkages, provision of MSMEs Park and the creation of electronic market place.
He added that the State government was relating with the Federal Government for the provision of MSMEs Shared Services Centre, to enable entrepreneurs share facilities.
"Our goal is to ensure this critical sector is engaged proactively and in a sustainable manner. Our role is to ensure Micro businesses grow to become small businesses and the small businesses become large businesses.
“Related to this is the government’s encouragement to MSMEs to consider the opportunities for entrepreneurship and job creation that exist in exporting products in which the State has comparative advantage. We will be collaborating with the NEPC to engage MSMEs on how to profitably export their products according to established standards”, he added.
Delivering the keynote address, Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Kikelomo Longe stated that the Clinic would help entrepreneurs start and scale-up their businesses, adding that participants involved in specialised areas like Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Agro-Processing, Non-Metallic and Basic Minerals, Fashion/Textile and Beauty Care would benefit from the Clinic.
‘’The government is creating several economic development clusters in strategic areas in Abeokuta, Remo, Ijebu, Atan-Agbara-Ota, Magboro and Imeko-Afon/Ayetoro. I want to call on entrepreneurs to take advantage of this free business premises registration window given by the present administration to register via https://businesspermit.ogunstate.gov.ng
In her goodwill message, a former President of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief (Mrs )Alaba Lawson commended the State government for its various initiatives geared towards the development of MSMEs, urging the government to ensure that funds for beneficiaries are properly disbursed and monitored.
Speaking on behalf of other participants, Mrs. Niniola Ademola and Mr. Abdulrahman Salaudeen lauded the present administration for organising the Business Clinic, calling for its sustenance.
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