Lagos Begins Implementation of National Policy on MSME

The Lagos State Government has commenced implementation of the National Policy on Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with the inauguration of the Lagos State Council on MSME.

The state has also flagged off the first Lagos State MSME Exclusive fair and the ‘Purchase Made-in-Lagos: Create Employment” campaign to boost patronage for products of MSMEs.

Speaking at the inauguration of the council and the fair, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode said that the establishment of the Lagos State Council on MSMEis was to ensure proper coordination of MSME subsector in the state and to key into the implementation of the National Policy on MSMEs.

Ambode, who was represented by the Deputy Governor of the State, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, charged members of the Council to identify MSMEs operating in the state and recommend how the state can enhance their productivity so that they can truly serve as bedrock for the economic development of the state.

Elaborating on the functions of the Lagos State Council on MSME, Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Prince Rotimi Ogunleye, said that the Council, among other things, will ensure that resources allocated for the support of the sector are properly and judiciously utilised.

Ogunleye, who is also the Chairman of the Council said: “The Lagos State Council on MSMEs would be a platform for implementing the following five critical policy priorities of the national policy: Enabling a regulatory environment that supports MSMEs; Fostering MSME growth and profitability by promoting clusters; Facilitating business support services and creating demand for MSMEs’ products and services; Improving access to financial support for MSMEs; Raising broad-based awareness and appreciation for Entrepreneurship and equip a new generation of entrepreneurs with requisite business management skills; and Ensuring , through adequate vocational, technical and entrepreneurship training institutions, an adequately skilled workforce that can effectively support the growth of the MSMEs subsector in partnership with strategic MDAs at the federal, state and local government levels; the private sector and the civil society.

Ogunleye said first Lagos MSME Exclusive fair is a marketing intervention programme for showcasing indigenous MSME products. He said the fair includes a strategic partnership with Konga Online Shopping Limited, aimed at enhancing market access and global visibility for indigenous entrepreneurs and industrialists through direct listing of their brands for sale on Konga Mall e-commerce platform starting with exhibitors at the trade fair. “Aside listing exhibitors on Konga platform for market access and global visibility, this fair would also foster quality comparison and innovative improvements among participating exhibitors for local and international competitiveness”, he said.

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