By Olanrewaju Adesanya
Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has been urged to create Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) hubs in the three senatorial districts in the state.
This was part of the Motion entitled; “Call on the State Government to Establish Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Commercial Hubs In All The Senatorial Districts of Lagos State,” which was moved by Hon. Ganiyu Okanlawon (Kosofe Constituency 1) during plenary on Monday 28th September, 2020
Hon. Okanlawon stated that this will guarantee a better life for the populace as well help in spreading wealth, thus tackling inequality via a thriving MSMEs.
He said countries such as China, clustered SMEs, and that China conceived the idea of one village one SME, one town one industry.
“We can establish commercial hubs in places such as Epe, Ibeju Lekki and others, to go into fishing. In a place like Badagry, they grow coconut and we can support them to grow. We can do over 100 products from coconut,” he said.
While commending Governor Sanwo-Olu, the House called on him to call on the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry to create SME hubs in the different senatorial districts in the state and to provide the necessary structure for their survival.
“This House notes the efforts of the Federal Government in the recognition of MSMEs as the engine room for driving the Nigerian economy and datablishment of Eko fashion hub at Ikeja, making it a one-stop centre for fashion designers to share facilities and resources.
“Further notes the commitment of the state government under the leadership of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in creation of a more business friendly environment for MSMEs to flourish through the MSMEs clinics initiative in which MSMEs shared facilities scheme that would be accessible to skilled and semi-skilled fashion design experts at a token fee per day to serve as an encouragement and thereby enhancing productivity that could compete favourbly with their fashion designer counterparts around the world and promote ‘Made-in-Lagos brand.
“Also notes that the recently commissioned Eko fashion hub is a fashion cluster shared facility for MSMEs and would provide high quality operating equipment that small businesses can access at a reasonable cost, within a conducive space;
“Observes that the shared facility has a total of 161 machines which includes 74 industrial straight sewing machines, 10 industrial steam pressing irons, four monogramming machines, hemming and industrial weaving machines among others,” he said.
The House then resolved to call on Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State “on the laudable partnership of the fashion hub commissioned virtually by the FG and on Governor to direct the Commissioner, Ministry of commerce industry and cooperatives to work out modalities on how to establish more MSMEs commercial hubs considering peculiarities of the Senatorial District on Lagos.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa said that MSMEs bring about socioeconomic development.
Obasa added that it is not about establishing, but sustaining what the state has established.
“We have to bring agencies that have to do with MSMEs together so that they can work together. Our Employment Trust Fund recently donated N5 Billion to SMEs,” he said.
In his contributions, Hon. Rotimi Olowo (Shomolu 1) said that SMEs make powerful nations of the world such as the United States of America, China and others to grow and that they generate 17% of employment.
Olowo added that every family is represented in MSMEs, and that if the state has MSMEs in each senatorial district it will showcase their peculiarities.
Hon. Abiodun Tobun (Epe 1) said SMEs are useful instruments to establish the economic developed of every nation.
“SMEs are faced with so many problems as they have issue of funding. When they are allowed to operate as hubs in each senatorial district, they would find it easy to come together and they would achieve more. This will enhance the economic development of the area and it will reduce payment of tax and Lagos would be better off economically,” he said.
Also speaking, Hon. Lukmon Olumoh (Ajeromi/Ifelodun 1) said that when SMEs come together it will reduce the cost of doing business.
In his contributions, the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Noheem Adams (Eti Osa 1) stated that SMEs will lead to unprecedented boost in the nation’s economy.
“Countries such as Germany, Britain, USA, China and others depend on SMEs. If we focus on this, it would create opportunity for employment and improve the standard of our living.
“The Lagos State Government should do a survey of MSMEs in the state and consider their capacities. The state government should look at the challenges of these MSMEs in the state,” he said.
Also speaking, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti Osa 2) said that a hub is a business generator, and that it makes a difference on how business grow.
“They are the backbones of every economy. Access to equipment, and electricity are problems in our country, but this will be solved when businesses come together. It is an opportunity for the government to drive the society into prosperity. With a furniture hub, the quality of furniture in our homes will improve, and it will help our GDP and economy,” he said.
The motion was suppoted by Hon. Victor Akande (Ojo 1), Hon. Setonji David (Badagry 2) and Hon. AbdulSobur Olawale Olayiwola (Mushin 2) and other lawmakers in the Assembly.