Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has disclosed that his administration has empowered over 12,000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through grants aimed at supporting business start-ups and expansion.
The governor made this known at the MSME Business Clinic 3.0, themed “Empowering Businesses, Shaping the Future,” held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta.
He noted that the initiative underscores the government’s commitment to fostering sustainable business growth across the state.
Represented by the Head of Service, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya, the governor stated that more than 10,000 MSMEs had received grants ranging from ₦100,000 to ₦300,000, while over 2,000 SMEs benefitted from ₦500,000 each to scale their operations and unlock new opportunities.
Abiodun further revealed that over 54,000 women entrepreneurs had been empowered through revolving grants under the Oko’owo Dapo Women Empowerment Programme, implemented in alignment with the Nigeria for Women Project. He added that more than ₦560 million had been disbursed under the scheme, while women groups had collectively saved over ₦1.8 billion.
According to him, the state government has also sustained an annual ₦500 million revolving loan scheme for cooperative societies, while youths have accessed financing ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦10 million through the Ogun State Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Scheme (OG-YES).
The governor disclosed that the Small and Medium Enterprises Industrial Land Acquisition Scheme (SILAS) is underway, designed to provide a modern industrial hub with incentives, tax rebates, and affordable access to land and infrastructure to further boost business development.
He added that through partnerships with organisations such as Getfunded Africa Technologies, Microsoft, and Google, over 100,000 SMEs and youths had been exposed to emerging technologies to enhance productivity and competitiveness.
Abiodun explained that the MSME Business Clinic was conceived as a practical, solution-driven platform to address real business challenges while offering direct support services to entrepreneurs.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adebola Sofela, described the clinic as a vital platform for providing practical solutions to business challenges, urging participants to maximise the opportunities available to grow their enterprises.
In a presentation titled “Understanding Nigeria’s New Tax Regime: What MSMEs Must Know, Avoid and Take Advantage Of,” tax expert, Mr. Olawale Abiola, explained that the new tax laws are structured to support small businesses. He noted that businesses earning below ₦800,000 annually, as well as agro-processing firms registered with the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), are exempted from tax payments under current provisions.
He advised entrepreneurs to obtain their Tax Identification Numbers (TIN), file annual returns promptly, and avoid transactions with unregistered entities, warning that violations could attract penalties of up to ₦5 million.
Responding on behalf of participants, Mrs. Odunayo Okudero and Mrs. Olamide Oyedunle commended the state government for organising the business clinic, noting that the programme was practical, impactful, and enhanced their understanding of business operations and compliance.
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