The Ondo State Government has reiterated its commitment to strengthening the capacity of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), through access to fund, training, and export market integration.
The State Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Corporate Services, Pastor Bola Ademuwagun, stated this in an interview with The Hope in Akure.
Ademuwagun was speaking on the just concluded 7th Expanded National SME Clinic, tagged Ondo 2025 which was jointly organised by the Federal Government and the state, facilitated by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
According to Ademuwagun, the SME Clinic serves as a platform for entrepreneurs to learn business expansion strategies, access government funds, and position their products for both local and international markets.
“SME Clinics bring our small-scale industries together to learn how to grow and to project their businesses beyond Ondo State,” he said.
Read also: OSRC to Get New Transmitters, ODSG to Launch Omoluabi Ethos
“Some of our entrepreneurs have already won national awards, and we want more of such success stories.”
The commissioner noted that the programme has had visible impacts since its first edition in the state, with significant growth recorded in several businesses.
He emphasised that a key focus this year was helping entrepreneurs understand how to access government funding, which many previously found difficult due to bureaucratic requirements.
He added that beyond financing, the clinic also trains business owners to meet export standards, thereby opening up opportunities in global markets.
On the ministry’s broader agenda, Ademuwagun expressed concern over moribund industries in the state, pledging to work with investors to revive sectors such as oil palm, cocoa processing, and ceramics.
“If we harness the resources God has blessed Ondo State with, we can compete economically with states like Lagos and reviving our existing industries will have a tremendous economic impact,” he stated.
Addressing concerns over strict collateral demands by banks, the commissioner said the state could stand as a guarantor for credible SMEs, ensuring they can access funds from institutions such as the Bank of Industry.
He urged entrepreneurs to engage closely with the ministry, assuring them of government’s readiness to support and project theirbusinesses.
“Let’s work together and see what we can accomplish,” he concluded
...){kind=link}