By Tope Musowo
Various stakeholders at the 2017 edition of the African SME Expo have harped on the necessity of stable power supply and water availability to drive SME's growth in Nigeria and the entire Africa continent.
The speakers from different fields who took turn to deliver papers on different topics relating to the theme for the year ;"Promoting SMEs for Sustainable Development and Economic Growth" said that there can be no sustainable economic growth where SMEs spend so much on diesel to power their machines due to lack of stable power supply.
An event which was a world class gathering of SME's practice that started on Tuesday 15th lasted till Friday 18th at the Bamora conventional centre, Federal Palace Hotel,Lagos, witnessed the presence of top government functionaries,captains of industries,business experts,researchers and scholars among others.
The programme started with a keynote address by the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah,after an opening remark by the Minister of State,FMITI,Hajia Aisha Abubakar,then, the first session which was opened by the Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Mr Olukayode Olapitan who spoke on; "The Challenges of Funding SMES and Their Structure", after which the main paper on," The Role of SMEs In The Prosecutions of The Industrial Revolution Plan", was delivered by Prof. Erlinda D. Adetayo.
Speaking at the program on Wednesday, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon.
Henry Seriake Dickson who was ably represented by his deputy, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah,told the Bayelsa success story in the area of Agriculture, promotion of SMEs,infrastructural development,etc.
The Honourable Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Hussein Adamu, represented by Dr. Balanle Olaniyan Amusadat, speaking on the topic; "Enhancing National Utilisation of Water for Agriculture in Nigeria" explained the link between availability of water and eradication of poverty. She opined that 70% of the needed jobs can be created through Water and Agriculture directly or indirectly.
She further explained that Nigeria has natural water potential of about 3.14 million hectares, while only 130,000 hectares has so far been developed, and less than 1000 hectares has been activated.
Dr. Olaniyan reiterated the commitment of the ministry to job creation with the Graduate and Youth Empowerment Programme, through the River Basin Development Authority,where youths are trained,and empowered to start their agribusiness in animal husbandry, aquaculture and so on.
Another speaker of the day was Dr. Latif D. Busari,the Executive Secretary,National Sugar Development Council who spoke on; Achieving National Sugar Self- Sufficiency -Role of SMEs. He also put in perspective the vision 2023 of the council to provide not less than 117,000 jobs for Nigerians through the down stream sector in the sugar industry value chain, most especially.
In a more electrifying session, that calls for a sober reflection, Dr. Victor Iyama,PEKAN President exploded on the the topic; "Problems of Exporting Finished Agricultural Products". The main paper of the day was on , " Plantation Agriculture: The Role of Biotechnology And Staple Cropping Zones ", and was presented by Dr. Abdulrazak Ibrahim from Forum For Agricultural Research in Africa, FARA,Ghana.
Other dignitaries at the program were; Executive Governor of Plateau State, Barr. Simon Lalong, Hon Minister of Mine and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi,Dr. Hussaini Doko Ibrahim,DG,Raw Minerals Research Institute among others.
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