FG, Kwara building stronger structures around SMEs

The Federal Government has intensified efforts to strengthen the growth and sustainability of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through the development of digital platforms and policy reforms aimed at improving the business environment across the country.

Prosper Ogbonna, Reform Leader for High-Impact Investments at the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), disclosed this in an interview with BusinessDay in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Ogbonna revealed that the Federal Government was set to launch Bizlink, a technology-driven platform designed to amplify the voices of small business owners and enhance their visibility in the digital marketplace.

According to him, the initiative is in response to the increasing digitalisation of economic activities and the need to equip businesses with tools to thrive in the online space.

“We are creating a digitised platform where businesses can advertise free of charge. This will enable small businesses across the country to showcase their products and services and gain wider market access,” he said.

He noted that beyond access to finance, one of the major challenges facing SMEs is limited visibility and inability to fully leverage opportunities provided by the internet.

“We will bring them on board and ensure they have access to these opportunities because one of the major constraints faced by Nigerian SMEs, apart from funding, is accessibility. PEBEC is working to ensure that small businesses gain visibility because even access to funding is often linked to visibility and market presence,” he added.

Ogbonna further disclosed that the Federal Government is working towards harmonising taxes and levies to eliminate multiple taxation, reduce the cost of doing business and curb revenue leakages.

“These reforms are important because they not only improve government efficiency but also reduce the burden on businesses and citizens,” he said.

Speaking on the business climate in Kwara State, Ogbonna commended the state government for creating a business-friendly environment and expanding economic opportunities.

“Kwara has shown improvement in national sub-national business environment rankings. While there is still room for further progress, the state has made commendable strides,” he stated.

He identified land administration as one of the areas where the state has recorded significant progress, noting that investors can obtain Certificates of Occupancy within 30 days once all necessary requirements are met.

The PEBEC Reform Leader, however, stressed the need to further strengthen the state’s one-stop investment centre to enable investors access multiple government services from a central location.

He explained that PEBEC’s vision is to provide technical support to business-facing Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), with the goal of improving service delivery, enhancing the ease of doing business and creating a conducive environment for investment through reforms that simplify government procedures and reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks.

In her submission, Hauwa Nuhu PhD, the Kwara State Commissioner for Finance, said the state government had undertaken significant environmental and infrastructure reforms to support businesses.

According to her, the reforms include the development of road infrastructure, strengthening of waste management systems, improvement in waste collection services and enforcement of environmental regulations aimed at controlling noise pollution and protecting public health.

She noted that the initiatives were designed to support both existing and emerging businesses and provide a conducive environment for their growth.

“Through various programmes and partnerships, Kwara State has supported entrepreneurs and small businesses through business development and entrepreneurship programmes, access to grants and financing opportunities, as well as skills acquisition and capacity-building initiatives,” she said.

Nuhu added that the state’s interventions also cover youth and women empowerment programmes, agricultural support schemes for farmers and agribusiness operators, and social investment initiatives aimed at strengthening livelihoods and enterprise development.

She noted that the state has harmonised taxes and continues to engage stakeholders to ensure a more efficient and business-friendly tax regime.

On future plans, the commissioner assured investors and entrepreneurs of the government’s commitment to sustaining a conducive business environment.

“We will continue to ensure that Kwara remains highly attractive to SMEs and large-scale investors. We are also focused on growing our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and reducing dependence on FAAC allocations from the Federal Government,” she said.