Business

SMEDAN, BOI, ICLED partner on MSME Business Summit for economic acceleration

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and Bank of Industry (BOI) in partnership with Innovation Centre for Leadership and Entrepreneurship Development (ICLED) Business School, Lekki, Lagos are set to host the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Business Summit to preposition the economy and accelerate the nation’s economic growth.

Founder of ICLED Business School, Prof. Olajumoke Familoni, made this known in a signed statement made available to newsmen, saying that the Summit tagged: “Renewing MSMEs in Nigeria: Navigating Disruption and Embracing Change in the New Digital World,” and holding between Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 September 2023 at Radisson Blu Hotel in Victoria Island, would be declared open by Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu.

According to her, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Commissioners of Commerce of States and several stakeholders from diverse areas, corporate organizations, MSME Associations, such as the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA), the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists; members of the Chambers of Commerce, supporting MSME agencies, educational institutions and regulatory bodies will be attending the parley.

Familoni stated that the modules for the summit would comprise the introduction of SMEDAN and its role in the national development, presentation of position papers that will dissect how to unlock opportunities for rejuvenating Nigeria in the digital era, driving economic resilience to unlock opportunities for Nigerian MSMEs and developing MSMEs in the digital era as well as the Case for the Syndicate Breakout, among others.

Besides, she said there would be syndicate sessions and networking as well as presentations of outcomes of syndicate sessions, discussion on Action Plan and Implementation, coming up second day of the Summit, adding: “The Action Plans for a renewed SMEDAN will be shared and a communique developed.”

Explaining the rationale behind the Summit, Prof. Familoni said it was an attempt to develop an intentional approach to assisting growth of MSMEs in the digital era after COVID-19, pointing out that the step would lead to the economic growth of the nation.

“The COVID disruption has affected most MSMEs, the Business Summit is an attempt to develop an intentional approach to assisting growth of MSMEs in the digital era after the COVID.

“This will eventually lead to the Economic Growth of the nation. This event is also expected to critically examine the mandate of SMEDAN as an agency saddled with the Mandate of developing the nation’s MSMEs.

“Also, SMEDAN is charged with the mandate to stimulate MSMES growth through advocacy and synergy with agencies within the MSME ecosystem in Nigeria. Furthermore, we will, along with corporate organizations, explore policies that will impact the growth of MSMEs in the nation,” she said.

“The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) was established with the mandate of developing and promoting the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria.

“The idea is a great initiative but the dividends have not been really felt due to many factors.

“We have set up some key strategic goals which will be discussed at the Summit. The summit is expected to bring about a new hope for entrepreneurs, business managers and SMEs in the nation,” she added.

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