Lagos Fair Will Position MSMEs For Growth, Says Commissioner

The Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives in Lagos State, Dr Lola Akande, has stated that the Lagos Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Exclusive Fair will position MSMEs for growth and continually yield dividends long after the event.

According to a statement from the LASG, the commissioner made the statement at the recently concluded fair with the theme: ‘Effects of COVID-19: Charting the way forward for MSMEs in Lagos’.

She was quoted as saying, “It is hoped that enough impact has been made and the lessons learned would lead to improved business awareness, potential partnerships and the beginning of viable customer relationships.”

“Your undeniable tenacity through adversity, as evidenced by your enduring operations despite the COVID-19 pandemic, with all its negative effects on commerce, is no mean feat,” she said.

Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Folashade Jaji, who represented the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, also spoke at the event.

She tasked owners of MSMEs to tap into strategies suggested to promote their businesses and make them more accessible to customers from around the country and across the globe.

Jaji quoted the governor as stating, “In line with the T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda of making Lagos State a 21st-century economy, MSMEs will continue to receive support from the Lagos State Government in various ways.

“The trade fair has provided immediate market, created awareness and provided a platform to interact with government and customers in the last six days.”

He assured that the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives would continue to ensure MSME visibility and exposure, not just on the local scene but also on the international stage.