By Goodluck Ikiebe.
The Agribusiness and Marketing Department of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, FMARD, and the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Forum have agreed to work together for the development and growth of the Nigerian economy.
Representatives of the two organisations reached the agreement on Friday, 7th April, 2022, after a meeting at the FMARD, Fadama House office in Wuse 2, Abuja.
The MSME Forum team led by its National President, Alhaji Garba Ibrahim Gusau, was received by Dr. Femi Laleye, head of the department and members of his management team.
While delivering his welcome address, Dr Laleye said that from his experience of Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau and Joseph Attah, whom he had known at some times before, he knew that the MSME Forum team was a powerful team, adding that he believed the visit was going to set a new pace in growing the Agric sector.
He said they, at the AMD, are much aware of the size of MSME in terms of supporting the development and growth of the national economy.
“If we are to look at growth from any sector, it comes from MSME. Our focus is to look at the areas where the Ministry can be of support to MSME”, he stated.
Alhaji Garba Ibrahim Gusau, National President of FORUM, expressed his joy for the opportunity the visit has created for him to reunite with old associates and to intimate the hosting team about the rationale for the birth of the Forum of MSME Business Membership Organizations of Nigeria, giving room at the end of his remarks to Mr Josph Attah, the Chairman of Forum technical team and a retired Deputy Director of CBN, to make his presentation and prayers that received rousing ovation.
Before Dr. Laleye responded, he gave room for comments and questions from members of his team. Those with comments spoke glowingly about the project, one describing it as highly rich and another as a model for growth in Africa.
In a concluding remarks, Dr. Laleye suggested, “Take advantage of SMEDAN – it can provide all the benefits for FORUM to succeed.
He also advised that the FORUM leadership should take the project to State and local governments, stressing that the Governor’s Forum should be interested in the project.
“The MSME FORUM should have advisory unit consisting of experts in marketing, skill acquisition, and agriculture and so on, to be able to prepare cost implications of whatever you want to do.”
Finally, Dr. Laleye assured that, “we will put together what we have discussed here to our principal and the need to come up with an MOU to enable us have a good working relationship with the Ministry and the FORUM.”
