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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration has reiterated the state government’s commitment to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and create a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.
The Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Idris Aregbe, reaffirmed the commitment while speaking at the third day of the three-day Lagos Tourism NBC Trade Fair held in Lagos.
The trade fair, which started on Friday, April 11, ended Sunday, April 13, was held in partnership between the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Naija Brand Chicks (NBC), to promote and empower small-scale enterprises, women and youths in business.
Aregbe said that the fairs attracted over 250 vendors and have continued to foster stronger connections between vendors and customers as well as attract more investors to Lagos including creating job opportunities for residents.
He said, 'Lagos provides the perfect landscape for business growth, and this fair is proof that dreams can be actualised with the right support. 'We are excited to create another groundbreaking event that empowers SMEs and transforms lives.
Thanks to the visionary Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for his intentional commitment to the growth and development of small businesses.
Sanwo-Olu urges workers to embrace innovation, excellence ‘'It is also not all about selling and buying but also using entertainment to drive visibility, which you are all seeing here today.
Lagos has a large market and will continue to drive its GDP growth for the benefit of all residents.' Sanwo-Olu stated
Speaking on the huge investment potential of the Lagos Tourism NBC Trade Fair, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Olanrewaju Bajulaiye, said the trade fair was a combination of commerce and entertainment to boost visibility for participating brands.
He said: 'What we are doing is to showcase the small business owners to the world, and this is to boost their sales and overall improve the economy of Lagos and Nigeria as a whole.
'We have many vendors who came in from other states into Lagos for the Lagos Tourism NBC Trade Fair, and they are so happy, as some of them said they made sales of one month in a day; that alone attests to the success story of the exhibition, and it will keep getting bigger and stronger.'
The CEO of the Naija Brand Chick (NBC), Nelly Agbogu, said she was thrilled by this year’s edition and the attendance, revealing that over 30000 shoppers showed up on the first day. 4
She commended Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture for their support in making the fair a huge success, revealing no state in Nigeria has supported her and MSMEs like Lagos under Sanwo-Olu.
