By Elizabeth ADENUGA
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has urged Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) owners to promote made-in-Nigeria products and services to aid economic growth.
Dr Dikko Umaru, the Director-General, SMEDAN, made the appeal at a programme on Tuesday in Oshogbo tagged `Opportunity Fair for MSMEs’.
Umaru was represented by Mr Elwans Monday, Director of Entrepreneurship Development and Promotions, SMEDAN, at the programme, which had the theme: “Expanding Market Frontiers for MSMEs’’.
He said the fair was organised to help nurture local entrepreneurial capabilities, technical skills, technological innovativeness and managerial competencies.
The SMEDAN Director-General noted that MSMEs were the key to the growth and development of any developing economy, adding that Osun was privileged to be hosting the second edition of the fair in the Southwest.
He said that Katsina State would host a similar event in the northern part of the country.
According to Umaru, the fair will help to attract new customers for businesses, networking and interaction with peers, development of strategic partnerships and also strengthen capacity with capability improvement.
He commended the Osun Government for its support to the agency and the mutually beneficial work relationship that existed between them.
The SMEDAN director-general urged MSMEs stakeholders to always visit its offices for expert advice, business counseling, mentoring and advisory services.
In his keynote address, Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, said for any serious economy to grow and develop, focus must be on MSMEs.
The governor, who was represented by Mr Bola Oyebamiji, the Supervisory Director for the Ministry of Finance, said the state had done credibly well in funding more than 133 SMEs in the state.
Oyetola said that his administration would continue to support MSMEs in the state with a view to promoting economic viability through locally made products.
TBI Africa said the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the “opportunity fair’’ witnessed interface between MSMEs and government regulatory agencies.
Products made locally by indigenous companies were also displayed at the event.
