Honeywell empowers SMEs, laments business climate

Honeywell Flour Mills plc has restated its determination to continue empowering small businesses, saying they are the engine of growth of the economy.

Lanre Jaiyeola, managing director, who stated this in Lagos at the 25th Certificate Award Ceremony of the Honeywell Baking School, also lamented the inclement atmosphere under which businesses were operating in the country, urging the Federal Government to redouble efforts to make the environment conducive for businesses.

Listing empowering of bakers as part of efforts by the company to ensure success of SMEs, he said Honeywell Flour Mills recognised that Nigerian bakers needed a broad mix of skills and that for close to a decade, the company had committed resources to the training of over 300 master bakers from different parts of the country in a total of 25 regular courses and one executive course.

Jaiyeola, represented by human resources manager, Tunde Adebayo, said “the company’s vision has always been to equip bakers and bakery owners with the most important resource of knowledge and skills required to run profitable operations and build enduring businesses.” The vision, according to him, is driven by understanding of the impacts SMEs could have as engines of job creation and enablers of wealth distribution.

He also urged the graduands to apply knowledge gained to distinguish themselves from the pack, saying, “the more you know, the smarter and faster you can go. That’s why we set up the Baking School to equip and empower bakers with modern baking skills by exploring the art, science and commerce of baking so that bakers can run their businesses more professionally and profitably. We believe this is the best way to give back to the society”.

Jaiyeola also reminded them of the challenge posed by the harsh business environment characterised by rising cost of inputs, high energy costs and other infrastructural challenges, hoping that the government would do their best within a short time to create enabling environment for businesses to thrive profitably.