MSMEs, FG urged to address gaps in economy

Entrepreneurs have urged players in the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as well as the Federal Government to pay more attention to the sector as part of measures to address gaps in the nation’s economy.

The stakeholders, who gathered at the 2019 edition of Glocalisation and Branding Summit, stressed the need to positively impact lives of Nigerians with the MSMEs sector.

Among them are: Tola Johnson, special adviser to the vice president on MSMEs; Tara Fela-Durotoye, chief executive officer, House of Tara; Kemi Areola, CEO, Vivacity PR and convener of the programme; Debola Williams, CEO of RED Media, and Yomi Sax, a leading Nigerian saxophonist.

Areola said the event gathered no fewer than 1000 forward-thinking individuals, empowering them with innovative, problem- solving skills, business opportunities and mentorship programmes.

She said it provided an avenue for attendees to interact, network, share business ideas and passions as well as leverage on the services of government agencies through MSME Clinics initiative.

Private companies in attendance included: Bank of Industry, SMEDAN, Corporate Affairs Commission, Nexim Bank, Bank of Agriculture, Keystone Bank, Access Bank and MTN.

She stressed the need to bridge the gap between SMEs and government plans for the sector, urging players in the sector to ensure that they utilise several opportunities provided by government agencies to support and contribute to the growth and success of all Nigerian MSMEs.

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Dayo Adeneye, who has been in business for a number of decades, spoke about his journey from his living room to the grammy’s and the transition to politics and philanthropy.

He said, “Nigeria belongs to you and me. if we do not fix it by ourselves, who will fix for us?”

Johnson said the Federal Governments’ MSME clinics initiative would create an enabling environment for small businesses to prosper towards creating jobs, wealth and eradicating poverty in this country. He stressed that government would intensify its intervention in small businesses through access to finance.

Fela-Durotoye, a role model for female entrepreneurs, who was present at the event, shared her success story as well as the secrets to expansion, urging the government to address challenges limiting the potential of the sector.

IFEOMA OKEKE

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.