By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Nigeria’s Vice President, Mr Yemi Osinbajo, will on Friday commission the MSMEs Fashion Shared Facility known as the Eko MSMEs Fashion Hub-1.
The initiative was designed to promote Made-in-Lagos brand through job creation and it is geared towards boosting the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the state via the expected revenue from the fashion hub.
The facility is located on 5, Ogunsiji Street, off Alade Market, Allen Avenue, Ikeja in Lagos.
A statement from the state government disclosed that the Vice President will be assisted with the commissioning by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Mr Osinbajo will perform the event via zoom teleconference, while the Lagos State Governor will cut the tape at the venue in line with COVID-19 protocols of physical distancing.
The Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Mr Lola Akande, has urged all stakeholders in the fashion industry to make maximum use of the facility in order to enjoy its benefits.
“This centre, which is the first phase of the shared MSME Fashion facility, has been equipped with state-of-the-art machinery to afford MSMEs in the fashion space the opportunity to utilise the infrastructure for a token, thereby enhancing productivity and apparel quality that can compete favourably with their counterparts around the world,” she said.
She added that the hub will be used as a platform for the retail of various types of ready-to-wear clothes and accessories as well as a centre tor capacity building and continuous skilling of those in the fashion industry.
The Commissioner said the 5th edition of the Lagos State Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Exclusive Fair themed MSMEs in the time of COVID-19: Survival Strategies to Beat the Odds, will hold from September 22 to 27, 2020, at the Blue Roof, LTV, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos.
She said the Eko MSME Exclusive Fair will provide access to free stalls for entrepreneurs in the state to showcase their products and improve sales as well as network for new contacts.
“As we are aware that new technologies are springing up faster than we can create and service, innovations are taking place at lightning speed.
“It is, therefore, imperative that this administration develops, designs and implements services and policies that would benefit MSMEs in the state,” Mrs Akande asserted.
The Commissioner maintained that the current administration has left no stone unturned in the development and continuous growth of the MSME sector in Lagos State, adding that the fashion industry, also regarded as the creative industry in Nigeria, is almost completely driven by MSMEs and is believed to be one of the most promising alternatives to the nation’s dwindling oil fortunes.
