By Fatima Muraina

Entrepreneurs have been urged to develop a resilient mindset to address multiple crises, aiming to eradicate poverty and boost the country’s economic situation.

This message was conveyed at the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) 2024 Day celebration, themed “Leveraging the Power and Resilience of Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises to Accelerate Sustainable Development and Eradicate Poverty in Times of Multiple Crises,” held in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

In his welcome address, the  State Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, and Cooperative Services, Pastor Olusegun Aiyerin, stated that entrepreneurs should solve their problems, as it correlates with wealth creation and drives economic growth.

The Commissioner, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Toyin Oni, mentioned that the state will leverage the experiences of states like Lagos in public relations (PR) to attract investors, emphasizing the government’s openness to ideas and initiatives for progress.

He reiterated the state government’s commitment to providing unique opportunities to reduce hardship for small-scale industrialists, alongside planning medium and long-term solutions for economic growth and development.

“REDEEMED,” a key agenda of the present administration, focuses on digital revolution and entrepreneurship development to alleviate poverty.

He further highlighted the state’s commitment to creating and sustaining an enabling environment for MSMEs, including the establishment of industrial parks across senatorial districts, notably at Ore, where economic activities are thriving.

During his presentation, Mr. Victor Olatunde of Growth Hubs urged stakeholders to prioritize marketing and global visibility, stressing the importance of knowledge and support for improved performance.

He called on the government to improve road infrastructure for agricultural businesses and enhance entrepreneurship training. He emphasized the importance of PR to attract investors.

Dr. Ariyo Olanrewaju emphasized that SMEs can be strengthened through access to finance and education, which are critical for accelerating business growth.

He noted the availability of soft loans but stressed the need for SMEs to define their structures and receive proper training to access government finance.

He also advised the government to enhance efforts in food security and support farming by opening up land for agricultural purposes.

Representing the Permanent Secretary, the Director of Small-Scale Industry, Mr. Ikuyuminu Temitope, described the day as the first celebration of its kind in the state and urged stakeholders to adopt the slogan for further growth.