Being text of the inaugural speech delivered by DR. ALBERT OLAJIDE AKINYEMI, Chairman, MSME FORUM Board of Trustees, October 6th, 2022
Today is an epoch making day marking the inauguration of Forum of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Business Membership Organization of Nigeria. We are grateful to the Almighty God for making this event a reality today. Right from the day the idea of forming this mega organization was conceived, the untiring effort of all who are present today has gone a long way not only to underscore its importance but also its desirability in fostering the growth and survival of MSME.
Suffice is to say that the importance of MSMEs in national development has continuously resonated in public policies and agenda to foster the growth of the Nigerian economy.
However, the precious bride has not received the quantum of attention. Hence this organization would be a voice of the needy to move the sector forward. Let me thank on behalf of our teeming membership, the initiatives of government to continuously support the MSME growth through ongoing interventions. But, as Oliver Twist, we need more, particularly for areas causing pain to MSME, prominent among which is funding as our topic of discourse today would manifest.
We cannot but thank all development partners for the different roles they have played to support the MSME sector. We ask for more support. We are aware of imminent preparations by development partners to prepare the Country Service Framework for the next cycle in due course. We plead passionately for inclusion of veritable programmes that would help in supporting the MSME development in Nigeria especially capacity building.
Let me say that Forum has a 5 – Year Strategic Development Plan for MSME development in Nigeria which would be introduced to our distinguished audience, We need your support to activate this dream.
I wish to specifically thank members of the Diplomatic Corps who are present to grace this occasion despite their tight schedules. We wish to ask for your support through your commercial desks, all assistance for development of our MSME products for possible export potential to your countries. We would be prepared to collaborate with your missions to conduct investors’ forum and trade missions.
I cannot end my address without highlighting the importance of our BMO members and their contributions. They have in no small way contributed to what we are doing today.
I want to place on record the contributions of Raw Materials Research and Development Council for supporting MSME FORUM variously. The Director General/ CEO in person of Professor H. D. Ibrahim deserves our commendation for his untiring efforts in seeing to the growth and development of MSMEs in Nigeria.
I wish to thank the Inauguration Committee of the MSME FORUM for midwifing this event which is manifesting today. We give them good pat on the back for a job well done.
Ladies and gentlemen and members of the press, I once more welcome you all to this event. I thank you for your attention.
God bless Nigeria.
