By Moses Uwagbale
The Federal Government has pledged its continued commitment to socio-economic transformation of Nigeria through the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Dr Dikko Radda, Director General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), gave the assurance during a dialogue session organised by the agency for MSMEs support organisations in Owerri.
Speaking on the topic : “ MSME Support Organisations Synergise Towards Effective Coordination of MSME Activities”, Radda described MSMEs as the engine for socio-economic transformation.
Radda, who was represented by the Director, Partnership and Coordination Department of SMEDAN, Mr Friday Okpara,
said that the agency had developed many programmes to ease access to basic needs of MSMEs orchestrated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also said that the agency would synergise with business membership organisations from private and public sectors of the economy so as to reposition MSMEs for global competitiveness.
He called for more commitment at the state and Local Government levels where MSMEs are domiciled saying that this will drive wholesome implementation of strategies for economic growth.
“ MSMEs are considered as the engine of socio-economic transformation globally because they can generate more jobs than any other sector if properly harnessed and coordinated.
“ SMEDAN will synergise with support organisations to reposition MSMEs for national and global competitiveness especially with the take-off of the Africa continental free trade area agreement.
“ Achieving massive employment generation, wealth creation and poverty reduction in this COVID-19 era requires an innovative approach such as this,” he said.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Imo, Mr Simon Ebegbulam, expressed optimism that MSMEs would give birth to several industries in the country if sustained and well managed.
Ebegbulam, who was represented by the ministry’s Director of Industry, Mrs Eucheria Onwukwe , thanked SMEDAN for organising the dialogue and urged participants to strengthen their commitment to MSMEs.
