NASME seeks innovative solutions to small business challenges

The Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprise (NASME) has rallied key stakeholders on deploying innovative solutions to address various challenges bedevilling the growth of small businesses in the country.

Preparatory to its 16th international summit scheduled for next month, NASME Executive Secretary, Eke U. Ubaji who addressed journalists yesterday, said the association is committed to interaction and adoption of concerted approach to issues of strategic importance to the development of MSMEs.

He stated, “If we are talking about economic growth, infrastructure is very key; when I am talking about infrastructure; power is there, road transport and all that”.

Ubaji who introduced the association 16th international summit said the theme of this year event is “Maximizing Diversification For Growth and Opportunity Through Alternate Market Channels” and scheduled to hold on 24th and 25th October at the June 12 Cultural Center, Kuto Abeokuta, Ogun State.

He said NASME’s summits are powerful tools for public advocacy, business networking, private sector dialogue, idea generation and consensus building among the entrepreneurial class and various relevant government establishments.

However, he said the summit will help address the challenges faced by MSMEs in Nigeria in order to, once again, draw national and global attention to challenges facing MSMEs in Nigeria with a view to sustaining the rate of industrial growth and development of the national economy.

He said NASME has constituted a high-powered committee, embracing key members from both the public and private sectors of the economy to organize the 16th MSMEs in Nigeria, which he said will help to create a conducive platform for MSMEs to showcase their products and services, stimulate an efficient synergy that could uplift the growth and development of the MSMEs in Nigeria.

He added that the committee will help to draw attention to the challenges and prospects of MSMEs, assist in the development of the latent entrepreneurial capacities of youths in Nigeria as a means for wealth creation, help MSMEs focus on critical policy issues capable of crystallizing diversification to areas of comparative competitive advantages.

Ubaji said the event is expected to be declared open by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbanjo, whiel the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh will deliver the keynote address, with the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Hajia Aisha Abubakar, serving as the chair person.

While stressing on the importance of technology, he said, “The issue of coming up with indigenous technology development is very key considering how forex is affecting a lot of people that rely on importing their technology to engage in manufacturing in Nigeria.

“So we are looking at the issue of developing indigenous technology; we have a lot of agencies that can help in that regard like National Agency For Science and engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and many others, but how many of our people don’t know about this? We will also be talking about competitiveness and how to survive in an environment like Nigeria”, he added.