Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is expected on Friday to virtually unveil the Eko MSMEs Fashion Hub-1, in Ikeja, Lagos.
Lola Akande, Lagos State commissioner for commerce, industry and cooperatives, who disclosed this on Thursday, said the Fashion Hub-1, first of its kind located at 5 Ogunsiji Street, off Alade Market, Allen Avenue, Ikeja, would be accessible to skilled and semi-skilled fashion design experts at a ‘token fee of N2,500 per day.
She noted that the hub was the state government’s additional contribution to creating wealth, boosting employment and further growing the GDP of Lagos.
Akande also announced the 5th edition of Lagos State Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) exclusive fair, with the theme: “MSMEs in the time of Covid-19: Survival strategies to beat the odds.”
According to her, the Eko MSME exclusive fair is an event where entrepreneurs are given stalls free of charge so that they can showcase their products and improve sales as well as network by making 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 imperative that this administration develops, designs and implements services and policies that would benefit MSMEs in the state,” she said.
Akande stated that the current administration had left nothing to chance in the development and continuous growth of the MSME sector in Lagos, saying that the fashion industry was driven almost by MSMEs and that it was believed to be one of the most promising alternatives to the nation’s dwindling oil fortunes.
The commissioner said the Federal Government, through the Office of Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, in collaboration with the Lagos State government, and the organised private sector decided to tap into available potential in the fashion industry by setting up a shared fashion facility in the state.
According to her, the centre, the first phase of the shared MSME fashion facility, is equipped with state-of-the-art machinery, such as industrial button-hole machines for suits and shirts, tinko machines, straight sewing industrial embroidery machines, monogram machines, to afford MSMEs in the fashion space the opportunity to utilise them for a token and thereby enhance productivity and apparel quality that could compete favourably with their counterparts around the world, thus promoting the ‘Made-in-Lagos’ brand.
