MSMEs are economic catalysts, say LCCI, Lagos Assembly Speaker, others

Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Honourable Mudashiru Obasa PHOTO:Twitter

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa; the state’s Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem; Executive Chairman, Kosofe Local Council, Moyosore Ogunlewe; Chief Executive Officer, the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr Muda Yusuf; President and Chairman of Council, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, (LCCI), Gabriel Idahosa, and Founder/President, Kosofe Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), Joe Femi-Dagunro, have identified Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as economic catalysts.

The dignitaries also commended Femi-Dagunro for founding KCCI.

According to a statement, yesterday, they spoke during the Kosofe Economic Dialogue 2024 with the theme “‘SME Sustainability & Innovation – bridging the cap,” organised by KCCI in Lagos.

Obasa, who was represented by Chairman, House Committee on Commerce, Cooperative, Trade and Investment, Tobun Abiodun, said: “We appreciate what they (MSMEs) are doing in paying their taxes regularly, which usually culminate into what the government is using to develop the state.”

Ambrose-Medebem, represented by Director of Investment, Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Lagos State, SuleAbolore, said: “This economic dialogue is a powerful platform for initiating and nurturing new partnerships with the state and for innovative ideas to be shared.”

Femi-Dagunro said: “We still need to have more city chambers and I am very confident that this is the beginning. We will continue to have dialogue and conversation sessions and we will continue to do other events that will make policymakers work together with the private sector. It is just about working together and not in isolation. As an advocacy group, we believe that some of the things we are saying are to develop the people. The participants said some of their challenges and I say let us begin to proffer solutions. The policymakers have to listen to the grassroots.

It is not just about palliatives. People want to work and make money but they want policies that will encourage them and also them to grow their businesses. That is what KCCI is advocating.”