Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki said micro, small and medium enterprises are the lifeblood of any economy. He said the sector has the potential to become the largest employer of labour.
Obaseki, who was represented by his Commissioner for Business, Trade and Cooperatives, Afishetu Braimoh, said so during a one-day event to chart the course for the implementation of the National MSME Policy in Edo. .
The governor said the state is ready to encourage MSMEs by linking them with loans and grants that would boost their businesses.
He said, “There is no denying the fact that MSMEs are the engine of any economy as they have remained the largest employers of labour. We have forged a strategic collaboration with local and international partners to ensure the promotion of the private sector in the State.
“What we do with a government is connect businesses with agencies and banks that they can give credit facilities to but they have to be registered with the state government to get that facility. .”
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Policy Director of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, Onesi Lawani, said the meeting was aimed at creating awareness and ownership of the national MSME policy in Edo.
Lawani said the implementation of the national policy aimed to facilitate and support a vibrant MSME sub-sector which would be the main driver of the country’s economic growth.
Also speaking, Markus Wauschkuhn, Program Manager for Pro-Poor Growth and Promoting Jobs in Nigeria, said addressing the challenges faced by MSMEs in Nigeria was the best way to close the unemployment gap. in the country.
Wauschkuhn said the essence of the dialogue was to enhance the coordination of activities carried out by federal and state MDAs as well as donor organizations, focused on the development of MSMEs in the country.
Represented by Akinropo Omoware, Policy Officer, SEDIN, Wauschkuhn said, “We believe the forum will provide stakeholders in the state’s MSME ecosystem an opportunity to interact on key challenges, foster a common understanding and to propose solutions”.
The Director General of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture of Benin, Mr. John Imalingmhe, praised SEDIN’s support to MSMEs in the state.
