…Urges Govt to enhance entrepreneurship education
A professor of Entrepreneurship and Management Strategy, Mrs Olajumoke Familoni, has said Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) sector is pivotal to economic growth and job creation in the country.
Familoni, in a statement made available to The Guardian, said small and medium enterprises often faced challenges in accessing domestic and international markets.
She therefore called on governments to support SMEs by organizing trade fairs, exhibitions, and matchmaking events to connect SMEs with potential buyers and partners.
“Creating a supportive ecosystem for SMEs involves collaboration between
government, industry associations, academia, and financial institutions. This
includes establishing business incubators, innovation hubs, and entrepreneurship
centers where SMEs can access mentoring, networking opportunities, and
shared resources. Encouraging collaboration and knowledge-sharing among SMEs through industry clusters or associations can also foster growth and
innovation”, the professor said.
She also stressed the need for governments to provide entrepreneurship education and training programmes to equip aspiring
and existing SME owners with the necessary skills and knowledge to run
successful businesses.
“Collaborations between educational institutions, industry
associations, and government agencies can help develop and operate
comprehensive entrepreneurship curricula and practical training programmes that
foster innovation and technology adoption”, she said.
The professor pointed out that implementing the stated practices concomitantly by governments, regulatory
agencies and other stakeholders could create an enabling environment for SMEs
to thrive.