The Lagos State government has trained and graduated two hundred and fifty three Micro, Small and Medium Entrepreneurs, MSMEs across across agro-processing, textiles, manufacturing and creative industries.
The training under the Lagos State Export Readiness Programme, LASERP in partnership with Afrimexbank and ImapactHER, is projected to add over one billion dollars in additional foreign exchange inflows annually and create three thousand new jobs in the next two years.
At the graduation and closing ceremony, Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu, said the program was to prepare Lagos entrepreneurs to compete beyond the country, diversify the economy from the dominance of oil and entrench the state as undisputed gateway of trade for Nigeria and African continent.
Represented by his Special Adviser on Works, Dr. Adekunle Olayinka, the Governor assured MSMEs in the state of conducive environment to thrive, while urging them to take advantage of the many fund access facilities to enlarge their businesses.
“To our graduating SMEs, let me say this clearly: your achievement today is not the end of a journey; it is the beginning of one. You are the torchbearers of our export vision, the ambassadors of Lagos enterprise, the symbols of a new Lagos rising. As you step into the world of trade, carry with you the pride of Lagos, the confidence of Nigeria, and the hope of Africa. Dream big, scale boldly, and never forget that Lagos stands firmly behind you”
“As we unveil the Lagos Trade Ambassadors to IATF 2025, I see not just entrepreneurs, but pioneers of a new Lagos economy. I see fashion designers who will compete with Milan and Paris, tech innovators who will rival Silicon Valley, farmers whose produce will reach global shelves, and manufacturers whose excellence will carry the “Made in Lagos” brand to the world. He said
Earlier, Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Bada-Ambrose, who challenged the cohorts to step boldly into the global export market, hinted that the state government had partnered the Bank of Industry, in which five billion naira has been earmarked for export-ready MSMEs, in line with AfCFTA protocols to guarantee market access across Africa.
“Carry with you the pride of Lagos, the strength of Nigeria, and the hopes of Africa. Do not dream small. Do not stop at your neighbourhood. Do not stop at Lagos. Do not stop at Nigeria. See Africa as your market. See the world as your playing field.
Remember, SMEs represent 96% of Nigerian businesses, contribute nearly 50% of our GDP, and employ 84% of our workforce. This is why your success is not just personal, it is national, and it is continental”.
“And when people ask, “Who are these rising stars?” let the answer echo: They are the graduates of LASERP. They are the children of Lagos. They are the exporters of Africa’s tomorrow” Ambrose said.
Speaking on behalf of the over two hundred graduands, Ms Demi Samande, thanked the Lagos State government for the privilege and advised her colleagues to think out of the box and be focused on attaining greatness in the export trade.
Some foreigners who witnessed the graduation commended Lagos for being the trailblazer in investment, noting that knowledge gained from the Programme would be judiciously used in their country to grow their investments.
Twenty outstanding cohorts were unveiled as Lagos Trade Ambassadors and they are to participate in the 2025 Intra-African Trade fair in Algiers next month.
Reporting by Yemisi Dada