By NKIRUKA NNOROM

The Director-General of Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi, (FIIRO) Dr. Gloria Elemo, has called for full implementation of all programmes and policies of government with respect to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs, if growth and development of the sector will be realised.

She spoke at the Investment Day of the FIIRO’s Investment and Technology Week titled, “Sustainable Job Creation through FIIRO Technologies” in Lagos.

She regretted that despite the huge natural resources available in the country, MSMEs have not assumed their rightful place and pulled Nigeria along the path of sustainable growth.

She stated that all bodies or agencies, especially financial institutions that government has put in place to support and respond to the needs of the MSMEs to drive the growth of the economy must be fully involved.

According to her, “Nigeria cannot continue to depend on the external sector, emphasis must be placed on the MSMEs harnessing Nigeria’s sizeable domestic market and abundant resources to ensure a steady supply of products that are vital to the nation and economy as a whole.

“We must note that despite resource endowments in Nigeria, MSMEs have not assumed their rightful place and pulled Nigerian economy along the path of prosperity and sustainable growth and development. This is as a result of industrial growth inhibitors.”

Continuing, she said, “In order to achieve the best of this event and continue to live with its preserved memory, eminent resource personalities have been invited to present and discuss germane issues as relates to MSMEs development to enhance the much needed growth in the nation’s industrialisation.”

She, therefore, called for collaboration and synergy between the institute, financial institutions and the Organised Private Sector (OPS) to the economy forward, saying, “I strongly believe that our working together will produce useful results, thereby enabling SMEs to bring their potentials to the fore.”

She stated that synergy among the relevant agencies will also enable the SMEs to manifest their abilities to generate sustainable supply of products in abundance and offer services to Nigerians and raw materials to industry.

“You will agree with me that working together at this juncture is required to create wider awareness for existing and would be micro, small and medium enterprises through unveiling investment opportunities and services available in FIIRO,” she said.