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  • Business - Companies
  • Updated: December 14, 2022

Poverty: Kwara Governor Pledges Continued Support For SMEs

Poverty: Kwara Governor Pledges Continued Support For SMEs

Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq

The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has assured that his administration would continue to support Small and Medium Scale Entreprises (SMEs) to deepen economic growth and fight poverty in the state.

AbdulRasaq gave the assurance at the Kwara Trade Fair in Ilorin.

According to him, Nigeria’s trade and commerce have continued to suffer limited growth because the country consumes more than what it produces.

Yakubu Danladi, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, who represented the governor said that this largely accounted for the economic hardship in many households.

He, therefore, urged the government at all levels as well as the citizens to be productive rather than always consuming.

AbdulRazaq said the event came at a time when government and private sector players should deepen their collaboration for growth.

“The timing and importance of this year’s event is unique because it comes at a time when all hands must be on deck to jointly improve the business climate in a sustainable way,” he said.

He said the theme, “Harmony through Commerce”, the fair was jointly organised by the Kwara Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KWACCIMA), the Kwara government and the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME).

"Undeniably, our oil and gas industry has contributed to and assisted Nigeria’s economic prosperity and growth.

“Nevertheless, this has come with its own downsides, including undue consumerism and unhealthy fixation on white-collar jobs.

“This fixation caused millions of people to abandon trade and commerce in search of such jobs.

“The consequences have been grave for not just the country but also for sustainable economic development and the standard of living of many families.

“Agrarian communities and mostly commercial centres built on trade have mostly been deserted today. Our agrarian economy collapsed with the oil boom of the 1970s. The rest is history,” the governor added.

AbdulRazaq, therefore, called for a change of orientation among Nigerians, urging citizens to continue to make efforts to grow the economy through trade, agro-processing, tourism and innovation.

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