The Lagos State Government has described the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture (NACCIMA) Business Women Group (NAWORG) as a worthy partner as both collaborated to support women entrepreneurs and promote locally made goods.
The Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives (MCIC), Hon. (Dr.) Mrs. Lola Akande stated this at the opening ceremony of NAWORG’s Year 2022 Nigerian International Women Entrepreneur Exhibition (NIWEX), organised in collaboration with the Ministry, which kicked off on Friday at Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja.
Akande, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Adetutu Ososanya, said the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu supported the exhibition because of the platform it provides for women entrepreneurs in the MSME sector by opening opportunities for them to contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of Lagos State in particular and Nigeria in general.
Her words: “As a responsive and responsible Government, the Sanwo-Olu administration has been very active at promoting locally made products by facilitating access to finance and market for entrepreneurs. For instance, the Ministry continues to organise MSMEs Exclusive Trade Fair and Exhibition, established Hubs for various professionals and several other activities, to expose the products of our MSMEs and assist them to gain access into the global market”.
“The Administration is indeed committed to growing the State’s commercial, industrial, agricultural, mines and other sectors and ensuring that Lagos is less dependent on other States for the production of foods while supplying them with other products”, she added.
The Commissioner expressed assurances that the future of the State and nation is bright and will continue to shine if our women are given their rightful positions and places, saying this will take us to the height we all desire in the quest to diversify the economy of our nation.
While acknowledging the support of the State in the successful organisation of the event, the National President, NAWORG, Hajia Aisha Abubakar revealed that the objective of the programme was to encourage women to do agriculture in a better way with increased access to land, input and equipment to mechanise their operations.
“It is also for them to play in the agricultural value-chain like processing, packaging, logistics, etc., because that is where the value is. We need to sustain the awareness and do more by building their capacity for them to actively participate in economic development”, she remarked.
Speaking on the topic, “Encouraging Women in Agriculture and Made in Nigeria Products For Economic Growth”, the Guest Speaker, Chief Kola Akosile explained that a conscious policy to encourage the patronage of locally made goods must be implemented to give our economy a stronger mileage”.
“The support of the government is very crucial to the survival and growth of our indigenous businesses. Government should focus on the initiation and implementation of the right policies that will provide an enabling environment and facilitate patronage that will ensure the survival of MSMEs. Government must also deliberately encourage entrepreneurs with facilities to cushion high production costs in order for them to break even,” he said.
The President of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Dr. Michael Olawale Cole, who was represented by Sir Ladi Smith, commended Lagos State Government for partnering with NAWORG to host the exhibition and affirmed that the event will promote women’s enterprises and businesses, as she described that women have remained unrelenting and dogged in the pursuit of economic emancipation.
The National Deputy Chairperson, NAWORG, Mrs. Funmilayo Ade-Ojo thanked Lagos State Government for supporting the Group, which she described as a shoulder on which all women entrepreneurs can lean.
