– Urges agency to double effort
By Abubakar Salihi Bello
As part of the drastic measures taken against COVID-19 and and economic recession, Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state hosted MSMEs Support Organisations Dialogue, at Africa House, Government House, Kano, Tuesday.
As he promised to give maximum support to any moves directed at repositioning Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to thrive, despite challenges posed by economic recession plaguing the country and COVID-19.
The dialogue was organized by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), as an effort to create a platform “…to bring together key stakeholders in the Nigerian MSME ecosystem to discuss factors and policies that impact Nigerian micro, small and medium enterprises,” to take correct position for the overall development of the nation.
“This sensitisation is a motivation factor. Which is capable of making our MSMEs redouble their effort. So that you can move from small and medium enterprises to mega industries. So also from micro to macro enterprise,” he said.
While describing them to be the foundation for businesses of mega industries, he said “any building without foundation is bound to collapse.”
He ncouraged that “We have enabling environment for businesses in Kano state. We peaceful and friendly to all. We have the enabling environment for SMEs to flourish. Alhamdulillah,” adding that, the state comes up with Business Clinic where people are guided about their businesses. The guidance is meant to strengthen the economic fortunes of such businesses.
In his remarks, the Director General of SMEDAN, Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda, who was represented said, “The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises sector is considered as the engine of socio-economic transformation globally.
The sector can generate more jobs than any other sector, create wealth and reduce the prevalence of poverty if properly harnessed and coordinated.”
He further explained that, “”It would stimulate and trigger widespread economic growth and development, improve per capita income and step up capacity utilisation in key industries.”
The dialogue, as he sheds light, looks at “The challenges confronting MSME development in Nigeria, ways to leverage on public-private partnership for synergy towards MSME development, to chart new working relationship between the MSME Support Organisations and the Business Membership Organisations.
To enhance the effectiveness of the federal and other government MSME Support Organisations for better service delivery, to sensitize the MSMEs on the take-off of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.”
