Lagos State governor to establish platform for support of young entrepreneurs

Akinwunmi Ambode, Lagos State Governor, disclosed plans last Thursday, that his administration to establish a viable platform to identify young entrepreneurs so as to be able to support and promote their respective enterprises.

“It is no longer in doubt that Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (SMEs) hold the key to realising our full potentials for growth and development. The history of the Asian Tigers is well known. It is also a fact that while most big business corporations started as Small Medium Enterprises, developing economies still pay special attention to the survival of Small Medium Enterprises in various sectors of their economies,” Ambode said.

According to the Governor, the biggest challenge which the government faced was to create an enabling environment for entrepreneurial spirit to thrive in the state.

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Ambode added that his administration was ready to take the bull by the horns by creating an Office of Transformation, Innovation and Creativity to lead the cause of improving the ease of doing business in the state.

Furthermore, Ambode said his administration is committed to supporting young entrepreneurswith a N25 billion fund within the next three years.

The governor spoke at the Biannual Access Leadership Conference 2015, which held at the Eko Hotels and Suites with the theme ‘Leading in a Transformational World-The Imperative of Innovation’, where startup Pitch@Lagos had already received support from the likes of former president Olusegun Obasanjo, President of Dangote Group of Companies, Aliko Dangote, and Access Bank, via sponsorship.