Economy
GOV. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has charged young entrepreneurs in the state to develop their creative ideas and grow the state economy.
Sanwo-Olu gave the charge on Friday, during the maiden edition of Lagos Island Business Fair (LIBIZFair) 2022, with the theme: ”Edu-Social for Entrepreneurs in Lagos Island, and Lagos State Towards Social Economic Empowerment”.
The governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Mrs Adetutu Ososanya, said that entrepreneurs should fashion their businesses on how they should be done in the 21st century.
”Therefore, I charge all stakeholders to remain committed and be encouraged to drive the economy of our dear state, as you all create wealth and change the narratives of how businesses should be done in the 21st century, using Information Technology to drive business in line with world best practices,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu said that the state government was re-shaping the orientation of doing business by encouraging young people to become social entrepreneurs.
According to him, the LIBIZFair aligns with the policy of his administration of creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.
He said that the government was widening access to market and encouraging networking and collaboration among entrepreneurs, in line with the Fourh Pillar of the T.H.E.M.E.S Development Agenda, – Making Lagos A 21st Century Economy.
Sanwo-Olu said that the fair lined up with the Federal Government’s Policy on diversification of the economy from the focus on oil to non-oil export.
He encouraged young people to become social business entrepreneurs and contribute to the world, rather than just making money.
In her opening remark, the Co-Founder, Lagos Island Connect (LIC), Ms Yemisi Ransome-Kuti, said that the fair was borne out of the need to help businesses and youths, particularly in Lagos Island area and Lagos State at large.
Ransome-Kuti said that the economy, being the start and end of everything, required main elements of adding more workers to the workforce, pushing productivity higher, hence, producing more goods and services to achieve growth.
She said there was need to create some world class businesses in Lagos Island, due to the importance of the local government area to the economy of the state
According to her, Lagos Island reportedly remains the richest local government area in the country, due to the large numbers of businesses and corporate entities there.
The co-founder appealed to the Minister of Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, to further support entrepreneurs on the Lagos Island with fit-for-purpose facilities.
She also urged the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, to look into the issue of abandoned Federal buildings on Lagos Island, many of which had been turned into a den for nefarious activities, including drug abuse and insecurity.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Lagos Island Business Fair (LIBIZFAIR) 2022 is spearheaded by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, under the leadership of Dr Lola Akande.
It is the culmination of dedicated effort by stakeholders to realise collective vision of a new Lagos Island that can propel socio-economic development and meet the sustainable development goals of the 21st century. (NAN)
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Tags: Dr Lola Akande. Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu LIBIZFair Mrs Adetutu Ososanya
