The Ogun State Government has charged operators of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to leverage the various initiatives of the present administration geared towards boosting their businesses.

This admonition was given by the Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adebola Sofela at the hybrid stakehokders engagement meeting with MSMEs operators as well as Business Membership Organisations (BMOs) held at Oke-Mosan in Abeokuta and on digital platform.

Sofela said the State government had implemented strategic reforms and initiatives aimed at improving business-enabling environment and increase private sector investments.

He said the reforms were structured to reduce the cost and time to complete business processes, adding that the Prince Dapo Abiodun administration introduced incentives, streamlined business registration processes through automation.

The Commissioner also pointed out that the State government included MSMEs in government contracts with improved access to finance to create a more conducive environment for entrepreneurs. 

Sofela further said that the government was promoting digital literacy and adoption of e-commerce platforms among entrepreneurs through partnership with technological companies to provide affordable digital tools and learning to ensure the MSMEs operators in the State are not left behind. 

He also mentioned that significant investment had been made in developing industrial parks and business hub and economic zones just as he made reference to the Small Scale industries Land Acquisition Schemes (SILAS) in Ijebu Isiwo, which he said was an initiative of the present administration envisioned to serve as a catalyst for business growth.

"We have introduced various funding windows like the Ogun SME Financial Empowerment Scheme to address the prevailing challenges confronting enterpreneurs and lack of access to finance as well as high cost associated with business operations.

"We are committed to building the capacity of our MSMEs having realized the need for enhanced skills and knowledge in business management, financial planning and marketing among our MSMEs," Sofela said. 

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olu. Ola. Aikulola, appreciated the stakeholders for their collaboration, just as he solicited for their cooperation towarss achieving more milestones.

According to him, the Prince Abiodun led government had many more lofty initiatives in the offing and you are  expected to key into it any time we call on you.

In his remarks, the National President, Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON), Dr. Femi Egbesola, who described Sofela as an SME-friendly Commissioner, assured the government of the support of small business owners in the State.  

The meeting had in attendance the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Association  of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON), Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Ogun State Signage Agency (OGSAA), Ogun State Internal Revenue Service (OGIRS), Association of Nigerian Women in Business Network (ANWBN).

Others were Cobblers and Leather Artisans Association of Nigeria, Association of Skill and Vocational Artisans Association of Nigeria (ASVAN), Ogun State Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (OGUNCCIMA), among others.