MRS. Olajumoke Familoni, a professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategy has stressed the need for a focused policy thrust on Medium and Small-scale Enterprises ( SMEs).
The University Don who is the
Founder and Chairperson of ICLED Business School of Leadership and Entrepreneurship stated this while exchanging views with journalists on the state of the economy.
Mrs Familoni emphasized that to encourage small and medium scale businesses, government must start by providing an enabling environment like clusters where infrastructure is in place and give tax concessions.
The manufacturer-cum- academic also noted the need for access to raw materials and training in management of businesses.
Disclosing that she was a beneficiary of all these as an apparel manufacturer in the United States of America.
“So if a bit of those incentives are used here,we will make great progress”.
Speaking against the background of the foreign exchange window opened for the Small and Medium Enterprises by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Familoni avowed that it was a welcome development.
She said a lot of firms have clients who are already crippled with the high cost of dollar exchange, stressing that SMEs are the bedrock of a nation and their survival is of great benefit to the economic vitality of the nation.
On promotion of SMEs, she said the country has just barely started.
The University teacher hinted further that there are so many policies to be put in place to create a strong and vital SME presence. “We have just started where others nation in the west have been for over 50 years”.
