Captains of Industry to discuss effects of COVID-19 on Real Sector / SMEs Financing

By Obinna Nnorom

As part of its efforts to help revive the comatose Small and Medium Enterprise ( SMEs) and the country’s real sector at large, the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria ( CICAN is set to host it’s 2020 edition of its annual workshop in Lagos.

The workshop theme is ” Effects of COVID-19 on the real Sector/ SMEs Financing” on December 12, 2020.

This fact is contained in CICAN’s media statement signed by the event’s Organising Chairman Johnmark UKoko and the Secretary Mrs Ebere Nworji made available to the media recently in Lagos.

The statement said among the important personalities expected to grace the event include the Hon Minister Of Industry, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo,

the Managing Director / CEO of Nigeria Investment Council Olusegun Awolowo, the President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria ( ( MAN), Engr Munsur Ahmed and others Captains of Industry.

The statement reads that the Director General of National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture ( NACCIMA) Amb Ayola Olukanni z the President of National Association of Small and Enterprises (NASME),:Prince Degun Agbode and other invited Captains of Industry.

The statement added that the Managing Director of Bank of Industry ( BOI), Viluton Energy Limited CEO, Ugonwa Okoli and other Captains at Industry are also expected.

According to the statement, despite the fact SMEs is the engine of growth of Nigeria’ s economy employing many millions of the youths, the authorities have not done much to tackle the various challenges confronting them.

The statement noted that forum will enable the media professionals reporting the sector opportunity to meet the Captains of Industry and brainstorm to tackle the challenges facing the sector.

The statement concluded that the Banks’s s CEOs present will be given opportunity to tell their stories on their financing efforts so far and what the will do in the year 2021.

The commique of the workshop will be given wide publicity to enable the government attend to their challenges.
The CICAN’ s statement said the media will do all within their power to support the SMEs sector.

CICAN was established about three decades ago by NACCIMA to adequately report the real sector of Nigerian’s economy.