By Victoria Onehi
Many Micro,Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) were gathered at the Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA) Abuja, yesterday for the 10th Edition of the Business 360 Clinic.
In his welcome address,the Managing Director/ CEO of the agency, Mal Shehu Abdulkadir, said the Business 360 Clinic is a platform where MSMEs interact with government regulatory agencies such as NAFDAC, SMEDAN, CAC, SON, FIRs and more to enhance their business profitability and productivity.
Abdulkadir said the theme of this years clinic “Technology Utilisation and Innovation: It’s effect on SME profitability and Productivity was crafted to encourage more SMEs to adopt the use of technology more in their businesses.He urged MSMEs to adapt more of technology in their businesses to enhance their productivity.
He further stated that at Abuja Enterprise Agency, various opportunities abound that MSMEs can tap into to be successful in their businesses.
In his Key note address, the Director General of NITDA, representated by National Coordinator of Nigeria Digital Innovation MR Yakubu Musa, said an effective way SMEs can increase their businesses productivity is by leveraging the power of technology.
” As a Small and Medium Entrepreneur,, you should be open to new strategies that can help you become more efficient in managing your business.
” Globally,the economic well being or otherwise of a nation depends on it’s capacity to utilize technology for business operation in all sectors.By utilising technology,developing countries can create wealth, generate jobs, implement economic diversification and open more opportunities to expand their economic fortunes.Hence, technological progress allows for more efficient production of superior goods and services by SMEs.”he said.
Representative of the Director Reform Coordination and Services improvement FCTA, MR Fatai Bello said SMEs should take advantage of the MSMEs One-Stop-Shop in the agency to register their businesses and get their NAFDAC numbers adding that at the one- stop- shop, entrepreneurs can find all the agencies they need there.
Deputy Director , Entrepreneurship Development and Promotion at SMEDAN,Omubo Pepple encouraged SMEs to take advantage of various Programmes at the agency and build their businesses to world standards.