SMEDAN, BOI partner ICLED Business School on MSME Business Summit for Economic Acceleration
…Set to Change Nation’s Business Landscape
The Small Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria {SMEDAN} and Bank of Industry {BOI} in partnership with Innovation Center for Leadership and Entrepreneurship Development {ICLED} Business School, Lekki, Lagos are set to host the Micro and Small and Medium Enterprises{MSME} Business Summit to preposition the economy and accelerate the nation’s economic growth.
The business summit, tagged: ‘Renewing MSMEs in Nigeria: Navigating Disruption and Embracing Change in the New Digital World’’, would be held in Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 September, 2023 at Radisson Blu Hotel in Victoria Island, 1 Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Lagos. It will be held between 9.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. daily.
According to the release signed by the founder of ICLED Business School, Prof. Olajumoke Familoni, the summit will be attended by 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.
‘’Also, expected are The Minister of Trade and Industry, Commissioners of Commerce of States, more. The event is expected to be declared open by His Excellency, Governor Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State’’, the professor of Entrepreneurship added.
The modules for first day of the summit will comprise the Introduction of SMEDAN and its role to the national development of the nation, 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.
In the afternoon of the day, there would be syndicate sessions and networking.
On the second day, there would be presentations of outcomes of syndicate sessions, discussion on Action Plan and Implementation, the Action Plans for a renewed SMEDAN will be shared and a communique developed.
In the afternoon, there would be discussion of the communique and opportunities for networking.
Explaining the rationale behind the summit, Prof. Familoni said it is an attempt to develop an intentional approach to assisting growth of MSMEs in the digital era after the COVID-19. The business scholar pointed out that the step would lead to the economic growth of the nation.
She said: “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 nations 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’’.
Continuing, the professor 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.
The Director General, Dr. Wale Fasanya has been in the agency from inception. 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’’.
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